By Guy Page
The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission is inviting the public to a community healing ceremony at Button Bay State Park in Vergennes on Wednesday, Aug. 26, following months of public and private truth-telling sessions held across the state.
The ceremony will begin at 4 PM at Button Bay State Park in Vergennes. Organizers say the event will be held rain or shine and is free to attend.
The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created by the Vermont Legislature. Act 128, passed in 2022, was updated in 2024. The law allocated $748,000 for an executive director, staff attorney; researcher, and administrative assistant.
The Commission says its mission is to pursue community-centered justice and holistic healing for communities historically affected by discrimination and harm. These include Native American and Indigenous people, Black Vermonters and other people of color, people with disabilities and their families, those of French Canadian, French-Indian or other mixed heritage, and other communities the commission identifies as impacted under Act 128.
According to the commission, tissues collected during its public and private truth-telling sessions — symbolizing the tears shed as Vermonters shared their experiences — will be offered in a ceremonial fire as a gesture of healing. The ceremony was inspired by Brenda Reynolds, care director of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“This is similar to smudging,” said VTRC official Melody Mackin. “The tissues, containing the tears from the truth-telling events, will be placed in the fire and the smoke is a visible prayer. Those in attendance can silently send their thoughts of healing and repair up with the smoke. We are essentially collectively grieving and sending on all of the healing for ourselves, each other, and the community as a whole.”
Commission organizers said they have heard deeply personal stories from Vermonters during the commission’s work and wanted to offer an opportunity for healing in return.
“We would like to welcome you to a ceremony of community healing,” the commission said in its announcement. “The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission has listened to many truths throughout the breadth of the state. Many tears were shed and profound moments took place. We are so honored to have heard Vermonters, and we would like to host, in return for that vulnerability, a ceremony for community healing.”
Truth tellers who participated in the commission’s process will also be offered an opportunity to speak publicly, should they wish to share their experiences during the event.