Truth and Reconciliation
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
“Education is what got us into this mess, and education will get us out.”-Honourable Murray Sinclair
Orange Shirt Day
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
Source:https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
Preparing for the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
In the lead-up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, here are some resources to learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ calls for action and justice, charities to support, and how to identify what Indigenous lands you and on.
Who's in the Room? - Video resource to engage students
Faculty are encouraged to create dialogue around Truth and Reconciliation using the adjacent video titled "Who's in the Room". You are encouraged to:
Show the video during class time
Discuss the content of the video
Assess how you and your class feel about the video
Let the video shape the conversation
Encourage others to view the video
Share the video on your social media platforms
Helena Neveu, Knowledge Keeper