A little more than five years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a historic apology to former students of the infamous residential schools program.
On Thursday, people across the country, including here in Thunder Bay, were honouring that apology.
About 30 people, including some who attended the schools, gathered in a circle at Vickers Park Thursday afternoon. Survivors who wished to share their stories did so, bringing some to tears.
Organizer Clyde Moonias says both of his parents had traumatic experiences in the schools and turned to alcohol to deal with it. He says they are now clean because of support systems like the Indian Friendship Centre.
Many of the rallies across the country were in response to recent revelations that Aboriginal students and adults were used in nutritional experiments by the government.
(Thunder Bay Television)
