SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October 1, 2026
Honourable senators, yesterday I flew back to Winnipeg to attend Orange Shirt Day with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, or SCO. And when I spoke to the people attending the healing walk organized by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, I asked the people, “How do you feed your iskotêw?” Iskotêw is your fire. And this came about because an Elder at a pipe ceremony had talked about feeding our fire as First Nations peoples.
When I look at the history of our First Nations peoples in Canada and the slow violence that occurs through various forms of historic and ongoing acts of genocide, let’s make a decision — this is what I said to them — that whatever our experiences have been, we must remember that it is our sacred duty to ensure we do not remain unrecognizable figures of victimhood.
When I said that, there was a groundswell, and I knew that we had a turning point in our lives.
The acts of violence dampened our fire — our spirit — within. Every day now since the pipe ceremony, I ask myself this question: What feeds my fire and what dampens it? And I act accordingly.
On September 30 — this is now from SCO — we celebrate the strength, determination, wisdom, grace, generosity and courage of our peoples. We uplift the beautiful children whom the Creator has gifted us. We thank the Creator who created us for a special purpose, not for residential school, not for the Sixties Scoop and not for genocide. He placed us on this earth and placed the spark of fire within us all — every person in this room.
My relatives, this is an acknowledgement of all the ways you have authored and will continue to determine your own brilliant becoming.
As we move forward, let September 30 be a day of celebration and reflection. Let’s continue to remember and honour our ancestors and our family who still remain earthside as well as those who experienced the atrocities and those who still feel the effects.
Thank you, senators, for all your support in all that you have done to support us. Thank you. Kinanâskomitin.
