by Gillian Batten Director, Communications Mount Saint Vincent University
Halifax, NS – October 20, 2021 – On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the wikuom located on the Mount Saint Vincent University campus, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, CM, Interim university President and Vice-Chancellor, gathered with a group of Indigenous community representatives, including residential school survivors, First Nation community leaders, Elders, MSVU L’nu Advisory Circle members, and university representatives for a ceremony of apology and commitment.
The ceremony was moderated by Catherine Martin, member of the L’nu Advisory Circle at MSVU and presently Director of Indigenous Community Engagement at Dalhousie University, and included a prayer by Sister Dorothy Moore of the Membertou First Nation, drumming and singing by Raymond Sewell from Pabineau First Nation, and reflections from Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council Norman Sylliboy of the Eskasoni First Nation.
At the ceremony, Dr. Lumpkin apologized on behalf of the university to survivors, their families and communities, as well as all Indigenous Peoples, for MSVU’s role in the tragedy of residential schools in Canada, noting that the Sisters of Charity Halifax, the founders and previous owners of Mount S ...
