The City of Thunder Bay raised the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s official Residential School Survivors flag at Hillcrest Park today to honour the survivors of the Indian Residential School system, and to acknowledge the thousands of children who never made it home.

The Survivors’ Flag is an expression of remembrance, meant to honour residential school Survivors and all the lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. Each element depicted on the flag was carefully selected by Survivors from across Canada, who were consulted in the flag’s creation.

“Following the guidance of the City’s Anishinaabe Elders Council, we will fly this flag at half mast until the last of the children are found, however long that takes,” said Alain Joseph, Indigenous Relations Manager (Acting). “The site of the flagpole at Hillcrest has a commanding view over the City and surrounding area.”

He added that on most days, you can spot Anemki Wajiw (or Thunder Mountain) and the Nanabijou (the Sleeping Giant), but more importantly an observer can look out over the four directions.

When the flag at Hillcrest Park is raised and to half mast, the flags at City Hall will be raised again to full staff. Out of respect, they have been flying at half mast since the discovery of the first unmarked graves just over one year ago. Flying the Survivors flag at half mast in this manner is an act that recognizes that the Indigenous community here, and across the nation, are still in mourning.

“Our hope is that it helps contribute, in some small way, to the healing which is needed. It is our hope that every child will one day be found, and then the flag will fly high as a symbol of strength, support, and the incredible resilience of Residential School Survivors,” added Joseph.

Next year, the City will construct a sitting area at the location of the flagpole to host future events and to offer those who want it, a place to offer tobacco, hold ceremony, or sit in quiet reflection.

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Contact:       Stacey Levanen, Supervisor – Corporate Communications & Community Engagement, 625-3650