The federal government held a ceremony on Parliament Hill on the eve of Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on all Canadians to reflect.

“Those children ripped from their homes, from their communities, from their language and from their culture, from their Moms and Dads. Who didn’t get to hear who they were or what they might be.”

The new federal statutory holiday on September 30 honours the Indigenous children who died while attending residential schools, survivors, families, and communities affected by the legacy of Canada’s residential school system

Trudeau says, “It’s harder to reflect on the truth, the mistakes, of the evil that we did in the past”.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says it applauds a federal court decision Wednesday which will see billions of dollars in compensation go to First Nations children who suffered discrimination in the child welfare system. A federal court judge dismissed the legal challenges set out by the federal government.

Chief of Little Black Bear First Nation, Clarence Bellegarde, says, “Our most important resource in this world is our children. The federal government has spent millions of dollars fighting First Nations children in court for years and it is a win for our children and their families”

Chief Bellegarde suggests to to begin their healing journey the victims need to be supported with programs and services.

The FSIN says two years ago, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the federal government “willfully and recklessly” discriminated against First Nation children living on reserve. The CHRT ruled that each child that was removed from their home is eligible for $40,000 in compensation.

(with files from CJGX)