The federal government raised the SurvivorsB次元官网网址� Flag on Parliament Hill today as a way to honour Indigenous Peoples forced to attend residential schools.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was joined by Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal and survivors of residential schools from across the country.

Several residential school survivors spoke about the significance of the flag, including Jimmy Durocher, a M茅tis survivor who attended St. BrunoB次元官网网址檚 boarding school in 脦le-脿-la-Crosse, Sask.

B次元官网网址淭oday we raise the SurvivorsB次元官网网址� Flag high over these colonial buildings, where lawmakers are now listening to our truths and seeking to work together towards reconciliation,B次元官网网址� Durocher said.

In her remarks, Scott asked elected officials to take moment while going about their work to pause when they see the flag.

B次元官网网址淧ause and reflect about the truth that still remains to be told and about the hard work that still must be done,B次元官网网址� Scott said.

Trudeau called residential schools a B次元官网网址渟hamefulB次元官网网址� part of Canadian history and said the SurvivorsB次元官网网址� Flag would serve as a way for Canadians to remember what happened at the government-funded, church-operated institutions over more than a century.

B次元官网网址淭his flag is an expression of remembrance,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said. B次元官网网址淚t is meant to honour all survivors and all the lives through the generations that have been, are being, and will continue to be impacted by the residential school system.B次元官网网址�

The flag was designed in consultation and collaboration with survivors, with each element of the design approved by the group that was consulted.

The elements include a depiction of a family with seeds beneath them meant to represent the spirits of children who never returned home.

Eugene Arcand, a Cree survivor who attended St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Sask., spoke about CanadiansB次元官网网址� shared responsibility to further reconciliation efforts and urged people to get to know survivors.

B次元官网网址淭here arenB次元官网网址檛 many of us left,B次元官网网址� Arcand said. B次元官网网址淭ake an opportunity to meet us. Know who we are.B次元官网网址�

Last year, ground-penetrating radar located what are believed to be hundreds of unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools, sparking efforts to remember survivors.

The flag will remain raised on Parliament Hill until 2024, when a decision will be made on its permanent home.

The National Residential School Crisis Line, which offers emotional support and crisis referral services for residential school survivors and their families, can be reached toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

B次元官网网址擭ojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press