Orange banners raised across Saskatoon in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clarke and members of many Indigenous organizations came together Monday in Civic Square to discuss how to move forward in reconciliation.

As the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches across Canada, the city of Saskatoon is getting set to honour the day and what it stands for.

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clarke and members of many Indigenous organizations came together Monday in Civic Square to discuss residential schools and how to move forward in reconciliation.

A “survivors flag” was raised to honour residential school survivors and orange banners can now be seen across the city.

“We have to start understanding that these are problems that we all have to come together to actually solve because we didn’t create none of this,” said Tribal Chief for the Saskatoon Tribal Council Mark Arcand.

Clarke said the banners are one way people can show their support for the Indigenous community and ensure things such as residential schools don’t happen again.

“It’s also an opportunity for survivors to know that we hear, value, and understand that what happened to them was wrong,” Clarke explained.

Residential school survivors were present at the event, and many took to the stage to speak about their experiences. For Eugene Arcand, the flags being raised is just one step in the right direction.

“Items like this flag that are going to remind people to do things the right way,” Arcand said.