Cory Bilyea may be relatively new to North Huron, but she’s making her mark, leading a full week of events, marking Truth and Reconciliation. “I’m actually really overwhelmed. I am so humbled to see so many youths come out to honor Indigenous people, to honor residential school survivors, and those that didn’t make it home,” said the Wingham area resident. Bilyea, who just moved to the Wingham area a few years ago to work for the local newspaper, is amongst a small handful of North Huron residents, with Indigenous heritage. As such, in previous years, the community marked Truth and Reconciliation Day with a small ceremony, but Bilyea has brought Indigenous authors and speakers to town for a week full of events to share her Indigenous culture with the greater community. “When I started writing my columns about Truth and Reconciliation, I found that the community at large here in North Huron was really receptive, and really curious to know the truth, and were not afraid to ask the hard questions,” she said. Bilyea says she is proud of her ancestry and hopes other First Nations people in small towns across Canada, step forward to share their heritage, with their neighbours. “It’s exciting to know that minds are changing. People are starting to accept the truth, learn the truth, and want to reconcile, and want to stand together. We don’t want people to feel guilty. We want people to recognize the truth and honour us as First Nations. We’ve been here since time immemorial,” she said. Bilyea says she already has ideas for next year’s Truth and Reconciliation week, and even throughout the year, to share her indigenous culture, with her community.
