On National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a ceremony was held on campus to honour the children who attended residential schools and acknowledge the lasting impact of Indian Day Schools and the ’60s Scoop on Indigenous families.

This ceremony was a solemn occasion to reflect on the history and ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Champlain was honoured to welcome two guest speakers who shared their insights and experiences, offering a powerful perspective. We were also joined by Indigenous alumni Eli Hamelin and Hannah McGregor-Pelletier.

This year’s T-shirt design was created by Champlain alumni and former Indigenous Student Ambassador Tahothoratie Cross.

Earlier this month, Champlain Saint-Lambert students had the opportunity to participate in an outing to Kahnawà:ke as part of a month-long series of events organized by Student Services.

During the day trip to the nearby Kanien’kehà:ka community, students had the opportunity to take a walking tour of Kahnawà:ke, have lunch together and take a guided tour of the Kanien’kehaka Onkwawenna Raotitiohkwa Cultural Centre.

Harley Delaronde served as the tour guide for the day, taking the group around and sharing information about the history and heritage of the place.

The series of events related to Truth and Reconciliation Day began on September 18 with Jennifer Kanerahtoronkwas Paul leading an engaging workshop introducing the basics of Kanien’kéha language vocabulary and pronunciation.

The next day, there was a screening of the documentary Red Fever in the auditorium. Red Fever is a witty and entertaining feature about the profound – yet hidden – Indigenous influence on Western culture and identity.

On Monday, September 23, Hannah McGregor Pelletier presented a series of workshops in classrooms called: “Echoes of Orange: Understanding Residential Schools and Their Impact”. She spoke about the history of residential schools, the origins of the “Every Child Matters” movement, and the significance of wearing orange on Sept. 30.