Pokaiks’ -The Children 2020

A look back at our 2020 Event:

This year, our event was held on September 26th. Due to the Covid -19 pandemic we had to take extra precautions. Our communities health and safety was paramount, as was our commitment to bringing Indigenous non-Indigenous folx together to commemorate Orange Shirt Day. Things were unique this year, we still had our annual commemorative walk, as we were able to facilitate that in a way that allowed for social distancing and the rest of the event was held online. This year we used digital rooms to bring together, Elders, Artists, Influencers, Advocates and Activists, which allowed us to host discussion panels, hear stories, view art and take part in cultural preservation efforts.

Orange Shirt Day is important to the organization as it is a day to remember, honour, and advocate for Residential School Survivors and their children. We recognize the disparities that Indigenous folx face since colonization and this our way to learn and celebrate together.

The Walk

To honour survivors of residential school and Sixties Scoop and their families, we walked along Stephens Ave, in the core of downtown Calgary. We meet at 10:00 am at the corner of 3rd St and 8 Ave SW in front of the Earls restaurant. The ceremony was led by elders and then we proceeded to walk to City Hall. We encouraged the public to bring their own hand drums, rattles or to carry signs that says Every Child Matters, or another Orange Shirt Day slogan. We also encouraged people to wear their traditional regalia and orange shirts to show pride in their culture and support for the Every Child Matters Movement! Once we arrived at City Hall Plaza we handed out bag lunches and bottled water. Due to COVID, we will also supplied face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer for those who needed them or forgot to bring their own.

The Virtual Event

This year we took the fun and learning online! We had live streaming of musicians, dancers, live painting, storytelling and youth workshops. The event will featured breakout rooms on Zoom where you could pick an activity that interested you, log in, interact and ask questions. We live streamed our main room to Facebook and Youtube as well. The main thing about our online event that hasn’t changed and remains the same every year is that we dedicated it to the children of the past, the present and the future.

We invite you to watch the video of the main Event of 2020

Our Elders

Clarence Wolfleg will be starting us off in a good way this year as our main ceremonialists.

We have discussions with Doreen Spence on Intergenerational Trauma.

Joyce Healy will be talking to us on the International History of Residential Schools.

Sheldon First Rider will be talking to us on the IMPORTANCE of Language Revitalization.

The Panel with Marilyn Shingoose, Doreen Spence, Beverley Hungry Wolf and John Sinclair will have a discussion on the their experiences during and after Residential School