How this London, Ont., resident responded to Canadian flags flying on her street

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Longtime Indigenous advocate Yeyatalunyuhe George from Oneida Nation of the Thames says Rachel Larivee is an example of a hard-working ally, and she's proud to call her a friend, as the horrors of those who attended residential schools in Canada continue to come to light.

On Sunday evening, Larivee set up a giant sign on the front lawn of her Starlight Avenue home in London, Ont.'s Argyle neighbourhood that reads: "There's No Pride in Genocide," and features information about the former Mount Elgin Residential School.

"She took it upon herself to take action in her own way and put up the billboard to educate her neighbours, and she did it in a really a big, positive and amazing way," said George.

• Wilmot's Canada Day committee cancels July 1st celebrations

Indigenous communities recently announced that 751 unmarked graves had been detected near the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, as well as what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

Mount Elgin Residential School operated on Chippewas of the Thames just outside London from 1841 to 1949.

"I've been listening to my First Nations friends and hearing a lot of their pain," said Larivee. "I have First Nations families that live on my street. They live in my neighborhood and they have to drive by all the Canada Day decor.

"I wanted them to know that they're supported and that they have an ally here."

Larivee said she has also been learning about Indigenous history by listening to stories from her First Nations friends and taking a free Indigenous history course through the University of Alberta.

That show of support matters, said George, who attended Indian Day School and whose grandfather attended residential school.

"My grandfather, he had scars on his back, on his bottom being whipped at school," said George. "He passed on a lot of the abuse down to my father."

Both George and Larivee believe celebrations around Canada Day should be paused this year, and plan to attend the Turtle Island Healing Walk on Thursday morning, to honour the children who died at Canada's residential schools.

"Canada 150 years ago on July 1st was built on genocide and the assimilation of our people," said George.

"I want people to understand what Canada was built on. It isn't something that happened generations ago. This is happening now. This is affecting my life now. It's affected my father and my children.

"And we're trying to pick up the pieces and just heal and move forward."

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by these reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for residential school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.