The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is marking one year since it held its first national event in the Northwest Territories.

The June 2011hearing in Inuvik was a turning point for many former students and families affected by abuse and cultural loss at residential schools.

Since then, the commission has held two other major hearings and launched the historical publication They Came for the Children, which examines the history of residential schools. It also tabled a report with 20 recommendations, addressing education, health and commemoration.

Commissioner Marie Wilson says reports of abuse, which were long denied or ignored by many Canadians, are slowly being accepted as part of the country’s dark history.

"Very importantly, what we’ve seen over that time is a gradual increase in the number of non-indigenous people who are paying attention to the commission and participating in the activities,” Wilson said. “Almost half of the people at the Saskatoon national event for example were non-indigenous. We saw a similar increase in Halifax and again in Victoria.”

The commission is planning two more national events in Vancouver and Edmonton.

Norbert Poitras attended the Inuvik TRC hearing and spoke for the first time about his experience in residential school.

Former student calls speaking publicly 'awesome'

Norbert Poitras had just left a residential school trauma program when he attended the Inuvik TRC hearing and spoke for the first time about his experience.

"It was awesome, you know, to be able to say all the stuff that I’ve been holding inside for all those years and say it in public was awesome,” Poitras said.

Beginning this fall, for the first time in the country’s history, it will be mandatory for schools in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to teach students the legacy of residential schools.

Poitras has devoted his life to helping former students move on with their lives as a residential school councillor.