A number of businesses will be closed in Alderville on September 30 in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Chief and Council for Alderville First Nation sent a letter to all businesses operating in Alderville asking for a “respectful request to honour September 30, 2021.
The letter states:
“In June the federal government passed legislation to recognize September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a federal statutory holiday.
Ontario has decided not to do the same at the provincial level saying, “Ontario is working in collaboration with Indigenous partners, survivors and affected families to ensure the respectful commemoration of this day within the province, similar to Remembrance Day.”
Chief and Council are not sure what the particular statement means but we do know that we are taking this day very seriously and will be reflecting it in our planning and participation in a community commemoration event as well as at the other local municipal and agency events.
In the spirit of commemoration, Chief and Council are asking our First Nation businesses to consider closing on that day as a sign of solidarity around the important matter of Truth and Reconciliation. At the heart of it are many Indigenous children that were so terribly affected by the residential school system. This past year we showed our solidarity in the marches which we held here in Alderville on May 31, and July 1, Canada Day, when the call for a sea of orange went out. These were very strongly attended, and reinforced Alderville’s level of seriousness and commitment to this tragic chapter in Canada’s history.
We would greatly appreciate your business coming together with us at the First Nation level to show our solidarity once again and to help reinforce the message behind the national issue of Truth and Reconciliation. Should you close for the day we would also be suggesting that a community closure be entrenched on an annual basis every September 30th here at Alderville First Nation.
With respect, Chief and Council.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
