Main Street was filled with people in orange and chants of "Every child matters" for the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg.

The Healing Walk was organized by the 60s Scoop Legacy of Canada, and people walked from the Canadian Human Rights Museum and ended five kilometres later at St. John's park with a Welcome Home Powwow.

The events in St. John's Park took place at Kapabamayak Achaak Healing Forest. It's a space that was created in the park created as a place for learning and healing, dedicated to those children lost to or affected by Residential Schools.

A Pow Wow took place at the park, honouring those who were in the residential school system and 60s scoop, as well as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

A woman wearing a red jingle dress(Community Safety Net/Twitter)

One of those walking was Michael Pahl, executive minister at Mennonite Church Manitoba. He wrote on Twitter that, "We chanted #EveryChildMatters throughout much of the 5 km walk. At one point it struck me: I could shout this phrase the entire walk and still not say it once for every child that didn't make it home."

Many other events took place throughout the city to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The federal statutory holiday fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #80: “to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors [of Residential Schools], their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

However, some have criticized the government for only fast-tracking the bill after the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the site of a former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C. earlier this year. Conservative Senate leader Don Plett of Manitoba says the government has been too slow to implement other calls to action.

The Manitoba legislature was lit up with an orange Every Child Matters graphic at sunset to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools.

A man in regalia poses for a picture with a teen and other men, both wearing orange shirtsManitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew (left) poses with Premier Kelvin Goertzen and his son Malachi. (Facebook)

Acting Premier Kevin Goertzen says he encourages all Manitobans to learn and engage in meaningful discussions about residential schools and their tragic enduring legacy in Canada.

But the statement says National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just one step in the process to heal the relationship with Indigenous peoples.

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With files from The Canadian Press.