City raises Survivors’ Flag in honour of Residential School Survivors
The City hosted members of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle in Civic Square on Sept. 25 for the annual raising of the Survivors’ Flag. This event is intended to honour all Survivors and those impacted by the residential school system.
Each element depicted on the Survivors’ Flag (created in 2021) was carefully selected by Survivors from across Canada. Eugene Arcand of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle – a Cree Survivor who attended St. Michael’s Residential School – was involved with the flag’s design.
The program included: remarks from dignitaries such as STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand; MN-S Western Region 2A Regional Director Kathie Pruden Nansel; CUMFI President Shirley Isbister; and Councillor Cynthia Block (Ward 6). An overview of the significance of the Survivors’ Flag was provided by Eugene Arcand, followed by a Moment of Silence for the Missing Children. The event concluded with the raising of the flag by Survivors Rick Daniels, Irene Sharp, Ida Jean Skarjstad, and Florence Highway.
The Survivors’ Flag will remain raised in Civic Square until Oct 2, 2023.