Hope, Truth, And Reconciliation

Before starting off today, I'd like to address my neighbours south of the border. I try not to get political here, but on behalf of the majority of the planet, would you please vote that narcissistic, incompetent, dementia ridden con artist out of office today? A return to sanity would be much appreciated.

Carrying on. In April 1980, Terry Fox started what was called the Marathon of Hope, dipping his foot in the Atlantic at St. John's, Newfoundland, and intending to make a run across the country to the west coast to raise money for cancer research. He had lost a leg to the disease, and his quest caught the attention of the country as whole.

He was forced to stop his run near Thunder Bay, and cancer would take his life the following year, but he left a huge legacy behind. Runs in his name continue to raise money each year for the battle against cancer.

One of his shirts is here.

How we relate to our American neighbours is examined as well. The quote accompanying this photograph is from Pierre Trudeau, the father of the current Prime Minister.

The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement is seen here.

The Museum's concluding area is thematic in nature, with several different themes examined. First we deal with the state of First Nations peoples, through history to the current time. This map shows how many residential schools there were in the country, into the 1990s. Children were taken from their homes, in the attempt to integrate them, regardless of the damage done to them or their families. It is a stain on our history we're still grappling with.

The Truth And Reconciliation Commission was formed to come to terms with the fallout of residential schools. This quotation from its chair is on one of the walls here.

Giniigaaniimenaaning (Looking Ahead) is the title of this stained glass window. It's one of a duplicate pair, with the other placed inside Centre Block on Parliament Hill. It was commissioned to recognize the impact of residential schools on survivors and their families. The artist is Christi Belcourt, done in 2013.

Among the items here is this powow attire I've shown you before. Amanda Larocque is a Mi'kmaq performer of fancy dance, a specific powow style. This is one she's used.