First Steps

Reconciliation isn’t an either-or proposition. It absolutely feels uncertain, confusing and at times overwhelming to know what to do next, but I could not have been prouder of our community to start on that path with the very first step, acknowledgement.

On Canada Day with open hearts, Fernie and the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡIm walked together in Reconciliation.

With heavy hearts Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡIm Council and elders gathered on city hall grounds. Councilllor Kyle Shottanana and Nasuʔkin (Chief) Heidi Gravelle spoke with grace and eloquence. It was powerful to have both elected councils participating in a formal ceremony to acknowledge the past wrongs, and to the best of our abilities try to support one another.

We walked for the little ones who didn’t make it home, we walked to support, we walked to acknowledge. Across this country, we will take different steps and that’s ok. We have a long road ahead of us.

Vince Mo has generously shared his photos with me for this article, and they tell a story that my words cannot.

Please keep walking. Keep acknowledging. Keep holding space.

Photo Credit: Vince Mo