- by Shaylyn Marie McKay

My mother and I set off Wednesday afternoon to make the 600+ km drive to Ottawa for yesterday’s inaugural celebration of the National Day of Truth xand Reconciliation on Parliament Hill.

It was beautiful and powerful and emotional for both of us. We held space in our heartsfor all of the children that never made it home and for all of the  spirits that were broken by hate and violence. There were many moments that I realized how grateful I am just to be sitting next to her, how grateful I am that I can hold her hand, and that I can cry with her.

Yesterday quickly became about appreciating the strength and resiliency of the woman who starting breaking the cycles that she saw so that she could lovingly prepare her children to break the rest of them. My mother and I sat in our truths yesterday, we gave life to our stories, our healing, and our path forward by allowing our sacred tears to spill over them. When we cry together over our truths, we are watering seeds of resiliency.

I am so proud to be mother’s daughter. I am so proud to be Anishinaabekwe.

Mom and I drove 7.5 hours to make it to Parliament Hill Thursday morning - where were you Justin Trudeau?