IN PICTURES: How children who died in residential schools were honoured in Manitoba
Leading up to Canada Day, calls from the across the country came in to cancel the holiday after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at former residential schools throughout Canada.
Demonstrations have been held all over the country, including in Manitoba.
Protesters gathered outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Thursday for a No Pride in Genocide Walk and Ride.
Protesters outside the Canadian Museum of Human Rights honouring kids who died at residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Protesters outside the Canadian Museum of Human Rights honouring kids who died at residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Dennis Meeches, the chief of Long Plain First Nations, wants the Canadian government to recognize residential schools, day schools and the Sixties Scoop as genocide.
"We love Canada, but we do have a shameful past," said Meeches. "To come together and walk in true partnership as it was intended in the treaties and we do need Canada to atone for its sins. Canada and the churches to atone for the sins of the past, and their trespassing against Indigenous children."
Manitoba NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine speaking outside the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Manitoba NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine speaking outside the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Manitobans walking in protest as part of the No Pride in Genocide Walk and Ride in Winnipeg. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Manitobans walking in protest as part of the No Pride in Genocide Walk and Ride in Winnipeg. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Manitoba NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine, who is also a member of the Sagkeeng Anishinaabe First Nation, explained why she and others are not celebrating Canada Day.
"Today is a day to reflect, honour, and stand in solidarity with Indigenous people, while embracing a hard truth. As uncomfortable as it may make us, there is no reconciliation on our territories," said Fontaine.
Demonstrators continued their walk to Portage Avenue and Main Street and throughout Downtown Winnipeg wearing their orange shirts.
Manitobans at Portage and Main during the No Pride in Genocide Walk and Ride in Winnipeg. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Manitobans at Portage and Main during the No Pride in Genocide Walk and Ride in Winnipeg. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Orange flags that have been set up outside the Manitoba Legislature to honour the children who died in residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Orange flags that have been set up outside the Manitoba Legislature to honour the children who died in residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
People later in the day gathered at the Manitoba Legislature where children's shoes were placed on the steps to symbolize the children who died at residential schools and flags were placed throughout the front lawn of the legislative grounds.
Children's shoes on the Legislature steps symbolizing the children who died in residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
Children's shoes on the Legislature steps symbolizing the children who died in residential schools. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
During the demonstration in front of the legislature Thursday afternoon, some of the demonstrators could be seen bringing down the statue of Queen Victoria.
The statue could be seen on the ground covered in red paint, while its base was covered in red paint hand prints.
The Queen Victoria statue outside the Manitoba Legislature was taken down by demonstrators and covered in paint on Thursday, July 1, 2021. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
The Queen Victoria statue outside the Manitoba Legislature was taken down by demonstrators and covered in paint on Thursday, July 1, 2021. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
AI tools can offer recommendations, answer questions and 'talk' with users. But some users are using them to recreate the likeness of the dead.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Prosecutors move deeper into Trump's orbit as testimony in hush money trial enters a third week
Prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush money trial are moving deeper into his orbit following an inside-the-room account about the former president's reaction to a politically damaging recording that surfaced in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.