Paddling the lake in the name of Truth & Reconciliation

Students of Constable Neil Bruce Middle School accompanied members of the RCMP on Friday to canoe from Kelowna’s City Park to Westbank First Nation beach in advance of Truth and Reconciliation Day.

After a ceremony was held in Kelowna, the canoes were welcomed onto Westbank First Nation land across the water, trading gifts, stories, and joining Indigenous elders in singing The Okanagan Song.

“It’s a year-long project for us where we take these youths from the school and we teach them traditional skills,” Const. Rohel Williams of the West Kelowna RCMP Indigenous Police Services told Kelowna10.

“Half of our kids here, you’ll notice there are some Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids, we don’t turn them away. The RCMP and some of our elders here are teaching the kids together and they learn to understand what truth and reconciliation is all about, and it makes them work together. I think that’s the best thing that can happen.”

Among the group of students participating were Lozen Lindley of Westbank First Nation, and Mason Marand, who is of Metis descent.

To them, reconciliation means an ongoing dedication to truth, respect, and assurance that things are going to change, something they hope will come to pass.

“It’s definitely changing a lot in schools, there's a lot more support and people wanting to support Truth and Reconciliation and being a part of it.” Lindley said. “I think it's getting better slowly, there’s a lot more support for the Indigenous community and peoples, and I have hope for it to change.”

After canoeing back to Kelowna, the students along with the RCMP, returned to WFN land to serve food and eat with Indigenous elders.

Saturday marks the first official statutory holiday for Truth & Reconciliation in B.C.