We acknowledge that we occupy traditional territories in Alberta. We recognize the land we stand on today as the traditional home and meeting place for many Indigenous peoples, including the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for generations. We commit to moving forward in a spirit of respect, collaboration, and reconciliation.
Today, September 30, 2026, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
We wear orange to honour the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose shiny new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. We also wear it to represent the children who never made it home, the survivors who carry the weight of systemic trauma, and the generations of families altered by the residential school system right here in Western Canada and across the nation.
As a municipality, our role is not just to manage roads, parks, and budgets. Our role is to build a community where everyone belongs, feels safe, and is treated with dignity. To do that, we must confront the truth. Reconciliation cannot happen without truth.
We must acknowledge that the historical policies of assimilation inflicted deep, lasting wounds on Indigenous communities, cultures, and languages. These are not just pages in a history book; they are lived experiences that continue to have an impact on our neighbours, colleagues, and friends today.
True reconciliation is a journey, not a single destination or a single day on the calendar. It requires continuous reflection and active choices every day of the year.
As a municipality, we commit to listening closer, learning deeper, and working in partnership with Indigenous nations and peoples. As individuals, I challenge each of us to take up the call to action. Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, support Indigenous artists and businesses, and have these vital conversations with your families and children.
Let us stand together in solidarity. Let us remember those we lost, honour those who survived, and pledge ourselves to build a more just, compassionate, and inclusive community for the generations to come.
Thank you – our choices today help shape the tomorrow we share.
Glen Hamilton Brown
Chief Administrative Officer
Village of Ryley