Murray Sinclair to speak on truth and reconciliation

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The Windsor Can-Am Indigenous Friendship Center and the Windsor and District Labor Council are encouraging people to continue learning about truth and reconciliation with a high-profile keynote address next month.

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The Hon. Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its 94 calls to action in 2015, will deliver a Zoom keynote address on December 9 on the theme “The truth is tough. Reconciliation is more difficult. ”

The talk will focus on the ongoing need for truth and reconciliation, especially in light of the discovery of graves at residential school sites across the country, and Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

“We couldn’t have a better person to speak about truth and reconciliation,” said Jennifer D’Alimonte, chair of the friendship center board. “Is not only reconciliation … they need to understand that these calls to action are not just words, they are actions that must be followed ”.

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The Windsor and District Labor Council, representing more than 30 locals, is partnering to host the event.

“Our job is to take care of our members, but we really believe in taking care of the community,” said Brian Hogan, president of the labor council. “How I, my brothers and sisters in the trade union movement, my children, do better with the indigenous people, is to be educated.”

Tina Jacobs, executive director of the friendship center, said Sinclair’s talk will address what hasn’t been discussed often, even among indigenous peoples, until recent years.

“That discovery had to happen so that we could deal with this, so we could educate and heal and get the grief going,” Jacobs said.

Sinclair is a former judge and senator best known for his work as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission released its report and 94 calls to action for reconciliation in Canada in 2015.

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And while many people have the perception that residential schools happened a long time ago, D’Alimonte reminded the community that the last residential school in Canada didn’t close until 1996.

“We have people who always say, ‘That was so long ago, you can’t just move on,’” D’Alimonte said. “No one seems to understand the domino effect. When you take a child and … all the things that were made, you send them as an adult, they have children, what did they learn? That’s the domino effect. “

“There are actions that have to begin and that is what we hope this will promote: guiding our allies (to) walk alongside us and move forward in healing with us.”

The Hon. Murray Sinclair will speak on December 9 from 6:30 to 8 pm via Zoom. Find more information online and a link to register online at caifc.ca or windsorlabour.ca .

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