GALLERY: Women leaders raise Every Child Matters flag at Algoma University

Dozens of people were on hand Monday morning to watch as the Every Child Matters flag was raised at Algoma University for Orange Shirt Day, also known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Four women leaders were chosen to raise the flag: Madison Mitchell, Elizabeth Nahwegezhic, Hannah Thibault and Nina Toulouse.

Nahwegezhic is a a fourth-year student in the university's Community Economic and Social Development program. Decades earlier, her grandmother walked through the same halls as a student of Shingwauk Indian Residential School.

"She's still with us, she's 87 years old," Nahwegezhic said of her grandmother. "She came from here and then ended up becoming a language teacher at the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board and then went on to help facilitate and create curriculum for Lakehead University."

Nahwegezhic, who currently sits as the vice-president of Algoma University's Shingwauk Anishinaabe Student's Association, said it was hard growing up and watching how it affected her grandmother when they would drive past the university, even years after the residential school had closed.

"I wanted to attend Algoma to reclaim this space and make it something positive and show that our presence matters and just try to reduce the negative impact living in a community where we experience trauma in the family," she said.

Nina Toulouse is the president of Algoma University's Shingwauk Anishinaabe Student's Association. Her grandmother is now in her 80s and also attended residential schools. 

"She's become a very inspirational person, the way she walks and the way she sings. The way she carries herself and the way she embodies all that culture," said Toulouse. "You remember those little ones who didn't make it make it home, and those ones who are still affected — our family. That's why I'm here in my role right now."

Mithcell is Algoma's communications coordinator, while Thibault is the university's cultural events coordinator.

Joel Syrette, director of Makwa Waakaa’igan, told the crowd it is important to remember the work that led to the national Truth and Reconciliation Day was paved by the survivors of the residential school system.

In 1981, the first Shingwauk reunion was held on the front steps of what is now Algoma University, in what is believed to be the first meeting of residential school survivors.

"And when our survivors returned the first thing they did was roll up their sleeves," said Syrette. "Through those collective efforts they have given us a very noble path forward, a collective responsibility that we have as we think of our childrens' childrens' children."

Monday's flag raising followed an early morning sunrise ceremony at the university's fire arbour. A candlelight vigil will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the front steps of Shingwauk Hall.