Cochrane comes together to improve relationship with Indigenous neighbours – Cochrane Eagle

Sep 14, 2017

Cochranites and their indigenous neighbours can begin to heal the divisive pain of the past by moving forward together, agreed a group of people who gathered last week to discuss improving relations between the two communities.

Upwards of 150 people packed into the Frank Wills Memorial Hall last Friday night for the first Cochrane Ideas event of the 2017-18 season. The monthly topical discussion group brought together several prominent members of the area’s Indigenous community to speak about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

The commission was formed in 2008 to explore abuses that took place on residential schools against Aboriginals by non-indigenous officials.

In 2015, after lengthy research, investigation and interviews with hundreds of survivors, officials released 94 calls to action to revisit health, language, justice, education and child welfare policies for indigenous Canadians as a way to “redress the legacy of residential schools.”