"Healing is freedom" – a message that resonates deeply in Okotoks and beyond.
A pipe ceremony was held in Okotoks on September 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The ceremony, led by Blackfoot Elders and residential school Survivors Drs. Reg and Rose Crowshoe of Piikani Nation, took place at the Viking Rentals Centre Events Hall.
Town of Okotoks Indigenous Relations Advisor Desmond Jackson spoke ahead of the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Indigenous ways of life. Dr. Reg Crowshoe then shared his experiences with residential schools and the healing journey that followed.
Crowshoe attended St. Cyprian’s Anglican Residential School on the Peigan Reserve at the age of five and later attended several other schools, including residential schools and schools in nearby towns. He recalled feeling that people did not believe him when he shared his experiences, which made it difficult for him to heal.
However, with the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2008 and its subsequent work, Crowshoe began to feel a sense of freedom and healing. He noted that the recognition of what happened in residential schools has helped him in his own healing journey.
Following the pipe ceremony, berry soup and bannock were offered to those in attendance, who were invited to take a berry and join in a ceremonial prayer. Community members were also encouraged to bring meaningful offerings to place at the memorial site in Ethel Tucker Park dedicated to Residential School Victims and Survivors, as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
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