National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the RBC Convention Centre

By: Maryrose Villena

Marcus Daniels puts on his regalia for the powwow at the RBC Convention Centre on Sept. 30. (MARYROSE VILLENA / THE PROJECTOR)

Marcus Daniels quietly slips into his blue and red beaded chest piece with yellow fringes swaying on its edges, at the back row of the drum and chant-filled RBC Convention Centre.

His regalia tells the story of many, and was passed down from his uncle—someone who is kind and what he aspires to be, he told The Projector.

Daniels, 18, performed a war dance with his drum group during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day (TRC) on Sept. 30 at the RBC Convention Centre.

He says TRC is good but “a message can be said more than just in a day.”

TRC aims to bridge the gap of awareness of Canadians to the tragedy of what happened to the Indigenous community and its lasting impact according from Manitoba’s website.

Daniels opens a big wooden chest and reveals an array of eagle feathers – he picks it up and asks his grandmother for help to tie the feathers on his back.

Marcus Daniel’s (left) grandmother, Sonia Vonselaar (right) helps him with his eagle feathers, part of the men’s regalia. The feathers are traditionally allowed to be touched by men, according to Vonselaar on Sept. 30 at the RBC Convention Centre. (MARYROSE VILLENA / THE PROJECTOR)

“It just makes my heart very proud because my grandkids are slowly getting back into their culture,” says Sonia Vonselaar, 62. 

She says she feels honoured to see Daniels perform and wishes her late mother was there to watch.

Daniels fastens on his feathers, picks up the eagle staff, and smiles at Adrianna Roberts, his girlfriend, who would also be dancing with him.

“It was taken away from us,” says Roberts as she describes why she became a Jingle dancer.

Adrianna Roberts dressed for the jingle dance (left) and Marcus Daniels (right) for the war dance holding his eagle staff on Sept. 30 at the RBC Convention Centre. (MARYROSE VILLENA / THE PROJECTOR)

Powwows are among the traditional practices that were once prohibited as part of the assimilation policies that were imposed to suppress Indigenous culture through the 1985 Indian Act amendment, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.

From the people in the orange crowd, Tanya Apostopoulos watches the powwow unfold with her husband, Nick Apostopoulos. 

Tanya Apostopoulos said the Indigenous community should be honoured more often. From what she has seen in 53 years the support for the Indigenous community was not celebrated publicly.

“It was something that would be taken care of behind the scenes,” says Tanya.

Nick says it’s unfortunate not all provinces are participating at TRC. He thinks that each province should be recognizing it.

Indigenous women dancing and holding feathers during the powwow on Sept. 30 at the RBC Convention Centre. (MARYROSE VILLENA / THE PROJECTOR)
Jingle dancers performing a healing dance during the powwow on Sept. 30 at the RBC Convention Centre. (MARYROSE VILLENA / THE PROJECTOR)

There are currently seven provinces – Alberta, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador – not observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a provincial statutory holiday, according to the Retail Council of Canada’s website.