Our Story

In May of 2021, when I heard about the 215 remains of Indigenous children uncovered at the former Kamloops Residential School, my heart sank. As an intergenerational survivor of the Indian Residential School System, I witnessed first-hand the hurt and ongoing effects of the IRSS within my community. As an Indigenous woman, I grew up with the teaching that movement is medicine. So in July of 2021, I organized a Healing Walk on behalf of my community to honour our residential school survivors and all of those who never made it home. The 26km walk began with a ceremony at the former Birtle Residential School and concluded when we made it home to my community, Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation.

The walk was inspired by my Kunshi (grandmother) Mildred, and Unkan (grandfather) Donald, who were survivors of the Birtle Residential School. My Unkan Donald once told me that when he was at the "school", he wanted nothing more than to just run away and go home. The walk was very symbolic to my community, as it allowed us to willingly and freely walk away from the school in honour of all the children who were denied the opportunity to walk away on their own terms, and all of those who never made it home at all. The walk was a reclamation of power for my community, survivors, and their families.

As the Healing Walk provided healing for my community and promoted education and reconciliation for all who joined us, I knew I wanted to bring this event to life again and continue to promote education and reconciliation across the country. So I decided to turn the Healing Walk into the Reconciliation Run, Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Half Marathon.

The Reconciliation Run follows the same route as the Healing Walk. It begins in Birtle, Manitoba, at the ruins of the former Residential School, and concludes on Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation.

The inaugural Reconciliation Run took place on September 30, 2022. The Reconciliation Run is now an annual event on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It brings together individuals from across Turtle Island while providing education and a meaningful event to partake in on a day meant for reflection and learning.

Please consider joining us in running/walking in the spirit of reconciliation.

-Tréchelle Bunn