On Saturday, September 30, Canada will be commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The City of Airdrie in collaboration with The Circle Connections for Reconciliation Society (CCFRS) is hosting several events to solemnly mark the day.

Earlier in the summer, the City announced that a dedication ceremony for the Îethka Stoney Grandmother's Teachings sculptures at Nose Creek Regional Park would occur on September 30. According to a social media post by CCFRS, the ceremony will be open to the public. 

The bronze sculpture statues were anonymously donated by an Airdrie family to the city. The anonymous donors had commissioned Don and Shirley Begg, an artist couple from Cochrane to make the statues. The sculptures depict a Stoney grandmother around 1909, when Airdrie was established, sharing her traditional knowledge of local vegetation with her grandchildren.

During the afternoon on September 30, The CCFRS  is presenting an opportunity to hear Elder John Sinclair, Cree Nation, share his stories and teachings. The Elder Talk will take place at the Bert Church LIVE Theatre lobby. It will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m

While the Elder Talk is free to attend, seats are limited. People must register online to attend.CCFRS stated in a press release that due to the nature of the talk, this event is for ages 14 and over. The event is supported by the Calgary Foundation and the City of Airdrie.

The second event is a performance of “New Blood: A Story of Reconciliation” from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. also at Bert Church LIVE Theatre.

"The widely acclaimed production blends Blackfoot music and contemporary music by Peter Gabriel to create an amazing piece of theatre celebrating Blackfoot history and traditions. Poetry, song, dance, contemporary and traditional featuring Siksika musicians and dancers, performers from Strathmore, Alberta and the music of Peter Gabriel."

Conceived by Deanne Bertsch at Strathmore High School, New Blood is made possible through support and collaboration with the City of Airdrie as well as the sponsorship of TC Energy. Tickets for New Blood are available online. Admission is free for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. 

Co-Chair of the CCFRS, Adrian Pruden, said that both events are an opportunity for not only learning, but also for reflection.

"It provides an opportunity to honour and remember children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities and really gain an understanding of the crime [and] the generational trauma that has been created against the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation," he said. "We need to be able to understand and celebrate our culture and heritage. These events give a perfect opportunity for awareness and understanding of those areas."

Flags will be flying half-mast at all Government of Canada, Alberta and Airdrie facilities beginning in the morning and lasting into the evening. 

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, which is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.”

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation began in 2022. According to The City, the first official commemoration of the day was hosted in Airdrie through a collaboration between the City of Airdrie, Circle Connections for Reconciliation Society (CCFRS), Elders and Knowledge-Keepers from across Treaty 7 territory as well as Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3.

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