WESTLOCK — Dozens of area residents and visitors participated in the Town of Westlock’s third annual Day of Truth and Reconciliation event Sept. 19 at the Westlock and District Community Hall.
The event showcased Indigenous culture, language and history, especially those parts that are significant to the Day of Truth and Reconciliation, which is marked every year by Canadians on Sept. 30.
It also featured a blanket exercise, information booths, dinner and drumming by Westlock County Indigenous artists, and father-and-son duo, Gilbert and Dennis McDonald and their company Eagle Talent.
Megan Nixon of Fort Saskatchewan, who came to Westlock with friends, was one of many who participated in the Day of Truth and Reconciliation event.
“(It) was my first experience with the blanket exercise. I didn’t really know what to expect but it was a lot more emotional than I thought it was going to be,” said Nixon. “I came away from that experience with a new outlook on Indigenous issues and the roots of Indigenous history in Canada that a lot of people don’t learn about.”
Nixon, who is studying social work at MacEwan University in Edmonton, said she and her friends were looking for “more ways to engage in Truth and Reconciliation” and learned about the event in Westlock on Sept. 19.
She said the event was well presented and provided a good learning experience for people, with displays of information on Indigenous traditions, language and culture as well as important resources and opportunities to interact with people and ask questions.
“Reading about it in a text book and writing papers about it isn’t the same as being in a room full of people and going through scenarios that Indigenous people had gone through over the years of colonialism,” explained Nixon. “It was a physical experience that really put things into perspective.”
Town of Westlock mayor Jon Kramer said it was good to see residents and visitors participate and share in the meaning of Truth and Reconciliation.
“It’s such an important event. To keep building relations with our neighbours at Alexander First Nations but also to keep building relationships with Indigenous people who call the Town of Westlock home,” said Kramer.
