TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY IN CANADA

 

Namwayut: we are all one. Truth and reconciliation in Canada. Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

 Truth and Reconciliation | Kevin Lamoureux | TEDxUniversityofWinnipeg

   

Lamoureux is committed to reconciliation and contributing to an even better Canada for all children to grow up in. Kevin is the Associate Vice-President Of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Winnipeg. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, 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. The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by Parliament. On June 3, 2021, Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) received Royal Assent. 

Wear orange 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 that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now 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 raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools and to honour the thousands of Survivors.