Canada marks first national holiday for indigenous reconciliation
OTTAWA, SEPT 30(REUTERS) -
Canada on Thursday held its the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honor the lost children and survivors of indigenous schools, following the gruesome discovery of more than
1,000 unmarked graves at two former schools earlier this year.
The so-called residential school system, which operated between 1831 and 1996, removed about 150,000 indigenous children from their families. Some were subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called «cultural genocide.»
Run by the government and Christian churches - mostly Catholic - the schools’ stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government created the new federal holiday in June.
Indigenous leaders have said the day should be recognized also by provinces, so that it is not limited to federal employees.