By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
In Grafton, the orange Every Child Matters flag was raised on the occasion of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a small group of St. Andrew’s United Church members gathered around the flagpole in front of their church – and it will remain in place for a month.
Social Justice Committee Chair Cathy White described the short service held Monday morning as a time to reflect on the meaning of that day.
“With singing and prayers, the group honoured and bore witness to the the thousands of children taken, their families, the survivors and those who never returned home from the residential school experience.”
White issued a statement after the event.
“Orange Shirt Day is not to be celebrated as a holiday. It is a day to reflect and to learn about the continual impact of colonial policies and governance in the land we now call Canada. On this day and every day, we must remember that every child truly matters.
“The raising of the Every Child Matters flag at St. Andrew’s UC in Grafton is in recognition of Orange Shirt Day. It will fly on our flagpole for the duration of October to remind us and our community that the work of reconciliation with our Indigenous neighbours is not the work of just one day. It is our job to continually work to make the path of reconciliation barrier-free for the survivors and families of the residential schools.”
As October passes, and then November, the Social Justice Committee will begin to focus on another colour and another cause – taking all the red scarves members and supporters are now knitting and crocheting, then tying them to trees, posts and railings throughout Grafton as a visible sign of support on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.
