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Nunatsiavut supports residential school survivors with symbolic walks

The Nunatsiavut government showed its support for the survivors of residential schools with several Walks of Reconciliation in Labrador on Wednesday.

The Nunatsiavut government showed its support for the survivors of residential schools with several Walks of Reconciliation in Labrador on Wednesday.

The marches took place in all five Labrador Inuit communities, as well as Upper Lake Melville, to mark the closing ceremonies of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Celeste Anderson and Tim McNeill are survivors who attended the residential school in North West River.

Anderson says she was proud to be able to participate in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay march.

"I don't think there's ever been an acknowledgment that we went to an institution, we went to a residential school. And I think there was always kind of like, needing a recognition of that. And this day provided that opportunity," she said.

McNeill says he was also happy to take part.

"I think what made me feel really good was, even though we didn't have a lot of survivors there, we had a lot of people supporting it," he said.

"That tells me something, that people are learning more about it, and they're willing to understand, and that's a big part of reconciliation I think, is understanding."