A sea of orange made waves at the Canada Life Centre, as the stadium welcomed 6,000 students from schools across Winnipeg.
After two runs in Ontario, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, or NCTR, held its annual youth empowerment gathering on the Prairies. This year’s theme is “Mino-Pimatisiwin–The Good Life.”
Kayla Johnston, NCTR’s director of education, said students hear from Elders and youth to learn what that means.
“(The) event is really geared towards youth grades eight to grade twelve, and meant to empower and inspire them by getting to listen and hear from Elders, survivors, knowledge keepers, as well as role models,” Johnston said. “They can come away with the sense that they can be just like them and fulfill those dreams and go after whatever they so choose.”
During the event, students put on their dancing shoes for performers like the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers. They lent listening ears to residential school survivors like Levinia Brown, the first female mayor of Rankin Inlet.
“The good life that we’re celebrating today, we had it,” Brown told the crowd. “We had it because our ancestors were so strong, and they were determined to survive, and they bring us to this day and age where we can share each other’s knowledge, our experiences, and learn from each other.”
They were also treated to a performance by Canada’s Got Talent winner Rebecca Strong, who travelled overnight from Prince Albert, Sask.
The Denesuline singer-songwriter said inspiring youth is her mission as an Indigenous musician.
“That’s what my whole journey on Canada’s Got Talent is about, is inspiring Indigenous youth to follow their dreams,” Strong said. “So being here and seeing all these youth out in the crowd and inspiring them just warmed my heart.”
After hearing from survivors, students honoured the thousands of children who never came home from residential schools. An orange banner adorned with their names was carried across the stadium, ensuring they’d never be forgotten.
With less than two weeks until the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the organizers hope the gathering will encourage more youth to get involved.
