Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived to cheers, pomp and pageantry yesterday at Confederation Building.

As Prince Charles made his way around, the marching band played a rendition of Great Big Sea’s “Ordinary Day.” Inside, the music and celebrating continued with music from Mi’kmaw musician Paul Pike, Rum Ragged, Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds and the Ennis Sisters.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples has been woven throughout the itinerary of the entire royal visit, something which Prince Charles acknowledged.

He says as we look to our collective future, the country must find new ways to come to terms with “the darker and more difficult aspects of the past.”

He says he appreciates the opportunity to discuss the process of reconciliation with the Governor General, which he says is not a one-off act, but an ongoing commitment to healing, respect and understanding.

Prince Charles’ pledge to support the process of reconciliation had the potential to fall on deaf ears yesterday. But the man who spoke for all Indigenous groups during Tuesday’s Royal Visit says that’s not the case.

Todd Russell, who is president of the NunatuKavut Community Council, delivered his speech at the Heart Garden on the grounds of Government House.

Later, he told VOCM he believed Prince Charles’ words were genuine. Russell says he was closely monitoring his own emotions to gauge how he would feel, or was feeling in the moment, adding in the end it was real for him.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples has become the theme of the three-day Royal Visit this week.

Charles and Camilla are in Ottawa today before travelling to Yellowknife on Thursday.