The province along with the Lieutenant Governor have unveiled the design for the Saskatchewan Residential School Memorial, which will be located at Government House.
The memorial design will be circular in shape, symbolizing the cycles of the seasons and of life. It includes benches that will be made from reclaimed elm wood, sourced from Wascana Centre and Government House and milled by the Provincial Capital Commission. It also includes Saskatchewan plants and trees which are installed throughout the design.
At the centre of the memorial, a large natural stone depicts the province and the locations of each former Residential School. The stone will face east, toward the sunrise, signifying hope. A smudge bowl will be installed in front of the stone for ceremonial purposes.
“The Memorial will acknowledge the pain, as well as the resilience of all those impacted by the Residential School system in our province,” said Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty.
The construction of a permanent memorial answers the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 82, which recommends installing a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential School memorial in each capital city to honour survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.
“The Residential School Memorial Site invites reflection, education and most importantly, healing and reconciliation,” Premier Scott Moe said.
(Screenshot of the memorial design. Courtesy of the Gov. of Sask.)