Sacred fire in Kitchener to remain lit as Indigenous memorial
Sacred fire 'a true reflection' of Indigenous resilience, says Dubie
A sacred fire burning this week in front of the Healing of the 7 Generations office on Frederick Street in Kitchener, originally set to be doused on July 1, will remain lit as an ongoing memorial.
Donna Dubie, the founder and executive director of the Indigenous services organization said the fire is to honour the children whose remains have been found at residential schools in Canada.
She said although the fire will temporarily disappear from view, it won't be gone.
"The fire will come down in a sense [Thursday]," said Dubie.
"We will be having a community feast. But we will carry some fire from Thursday to Friday to relight the fire. And have a continuous fire until they have searched all the residential schools, all the sanatoriums for our children and in some areas, some parents and some grandparents."
Fire stayed lit during downpour
The sacred fire has remained alight with the help of volunteers since Friday, June 25th. And it even managed to stay flickering during a heavy downpour of rain Tuesday afternoon. Dubie took that as a positive sign.
"The flame just glowed and carried on. It never wavered and never went out. It never went anywhere," said Dubie. "I believe that's a true reflection of who our people are."
