National Truth and Reconciliation Week and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept 30)
Truth and Reconciliation week is a 5-day national event that will continue the conversations from Every Child Matters. Important conversations including the truths of the Indigenous treaties, First Nation, Métis and Inuit land claims, and the residential schools system. This online event offered by the National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation will provide historical workshops, exclusive video content, and activities for students — all supported by artistic and cultural performances by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. See the resources below for the link to the events.
September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day recognizes the colonial legacy of residential schools, honour Indigenous survivors, and is vital to the ongoing reconciliation process. ACTA’s office will be closed in observance of this day.
We encourage all people to observe this important day. The following are resources that may assist you in your observance of the day and your truth and reconciliation journey:
Learn more about the NTRC and the 94 Calls to Action: https://nctr.ca/about/history-of-the-trc/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-of-canada/
Sign up for daily activities online from the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/truth-and-reconciliation-week-tickets-153491752965
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013. Today, Orange Shirt Day has evolved into a national day of personal and organizational reflection. To learn more about the society and the story that inspired a movement. Read Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story here: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html
Family learning resources and reading options for children: https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/education-resources/
An excellent, easy-to-read, tips-based book to help your team start the journey: https://www.ictinc.ca/books/indigenous-relations
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People or UNDRIP is the focus of Canada’s passage of Bill C-15 by the Government of Canada in June 2021. To learn more about UNDRIP, visit: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/index.html; or watch this short video: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/video.html
Ray Moran, Introduction to the Canadian Geographic’s “Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada”: The harm inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples is not only a problem for Indigenous Peoples. It is a Canadian problem that requires all Canadians to take responsibility and action to repair the damage done. Former TRC commissioner Wilton Littlechild recently talked about the opportunity presented to us as a whole, stating: “If two people are trying to walk down a railroad track, each balancing on a rail independently, they will not get very far. But if they join hands and walk together they will make it much further down the road.”To learn more, or to purchase your copy of the Atlas, visit: https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/
Words Matter! There are many words and descriptions that you will have come across over the years to describe Indigenous People in Canada. What words should you use and when, and why? To learn more, check out this resource: Indigenous Peoples: A Guide to Terminology by Bob Joseph and Cynthia Joseph
Did you know the last Indian Residential School in Canada operated until 1996? Learn more about the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada with this short video from @HistoricaCanada (5m 39s): https://youtu.be/VFgNI1lfe0A
Consider participating in 150 Acts of Reconciliation. Many of these are small, everyday acts that average Canadians can undertake, but others are more provocative that encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways. http://activehistory.ca/2017/08/150-acts-of-reconciliation-for-the-last-150-days-of-canadas-150/
Take a free online U of A Course! Indigenous Canada is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html