Dr. Dawne has been working on a very important project with local artist Ania Ronkiewicz. They’ve created a memorial image in honour of the survivors and victims of the Canadian Residential Schools.

These 3 feathers represent: the past, present, and the future. The Past: atrocities of genocide and cultural erasure the world must acknowledge and atone for. The Present: we educuate ourselves and the next generation of the wrongs perpetuated by colonial practices. And the Future, so we break the cycle violence and repression, valuing all cultures for their unique perspectives.

Dr. Dawne hopes that this will give you a moment of reflection. Truth & Reconciliation begins with Truth. First Nations communities have been telling the world for years of the horrors they’ve been subjected to. Those Truths have been shrugged off, covered up, ignored, and silenced. 

With the physical proof of over 5000 unmarked graves of First Nations children (and counting) revealed by ground penetrating radar, the world can no longer deny the truth of what Indigenous people have been telling us for years. 

Let us all take the opportunity to acknowledge the terrible wrongs, and work to create a country where history will NOT repeat itself.