UNB’s Truth and Reconciliation ceremony: remembering to listen

Miriam White said she wants to “raise a little kiddo who knows the truth and continues to fight for justice.” (Sabrina Zabatiero A/Q).

A crowd in orange shirts filled the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) on Sept. 30 as drums, with two Indigenous girls dancing nearby, opened the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The ceremony, organized by the Office of the Piluwithasuwin, took place at both UNB’s Fredericton and Saint John campuses, with more people joining online. 

It began with a prayer conducted by Patricia Marshall from Potlotek and continued with music, speeches, a video from Elder Vaughn Nicholas and a minute of silence. 

Ramona Nicholas, director of the Mi’Kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre, served as emcee. Reminding the attendees, “your presence is a powerful act of remembrance and solidarity.” 

The gathering was held on the unceded territory of the Wolastoqey people and the memories of the children of residential schools were held. Ramona Nicholas also sang and played a song from the Tobique First Nations. She closed her eyes and tears showed as her voice stayed clear. 

Another strong and emotional moment was marked by a video from Elder Vaughn Nicholas, a residential school survivor, who shared his story of how they “had been traumatized through government policies.” 

He said he did not think about what happened for many years and that it was years before he began to recognize what had been done to him. 

UNB's Acting President, Kathy Wilson, said the harms of residential schools "did not end when those institutions closed." 

She said, for a university, reconciliation means "creating opportunities to learn, fostering respectful relationships, removing barriers and ensuring Indigenous knowledge and perspectives have a meaningful place within our community." She added that commitment shows in "how we support our Indigenous students."

Kira Amuwes Wilson, the President of Indigenous Student Representative, spoke about what that support means in practice. "Truth and reconciliation to me is being able to openly have these spaces to collaborate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people," she said. 

Amuwes said that the relationship between the two groups remains strained by intergenerational trauma and lack of knowledge, including limited access to education about Indigenous cultures.

Her own experience shows why those spaces matter. In her first years at UNB, she almost dropped out, because she didn't know where to find support. 

"Bringing that comfort of culture into academia is super important for Indigenous youth," she said. "So they're able to be comfortable and find their passion in whatever they want to do."

Visitors also described what they took from the ceremony. Miriam White, who attended with her young son and her mother Meg, said she wants to keep learning and pass that on. 

"One of the best ways to continue raising awareness is to continue to educate yourself," she said, pointing to the online Wabanaki collection as a resource. And for Meg the most important thing is "remembering and listening."

By the end of the ceremony, volunteers handed out paper hearts as part of the Orange Heart Project. Each sheet invited people to write a reflection, cut out the heart and display it to honour the residential school children who never returned home and to support the communities who grieve them. 

Nmoskeyin is in Wolastoqey and Meskoltiek is in Mi’kmaq, both meaning “I am sorry.” (Sabrina Zabatiero A/Q).

Many said "Every child matters." Others thanked the storytellers. One read: "My heart resonates with each beat of the drum, reminding me of all the stolen hearts still beating with the Creator." 

Support is available. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line offers 24-hour support at 1-866-925-4419.