On September 30th each year, Canadians and the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools and honour the survivors, their families, and communities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30th was chosen as the date for the holiday because it builds on the grassroots movement Orange Shirt Day, which is a day to remember the legacy of residential schools and move forward with reconciliation. September has historically been a painful month for Indigenous families and communities because it is the time when children were separated from their loved ones and communities when they went back to residential school.
Resources for Indigenous Peoples
Indian residential school survivors and family can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24/7 for counselling and crisis intervention, toll-free at 1-855-242-3310 or in to the online chat.
Resources for Learning
The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council has launched a new area on their website to give non-Indigenous people information about the history, language, culture, and land (including Territorial Land Acknowledgement) of the W̱SÁNEĆ people. Please check out Resources for Settlers here.
The Downie Wenjack Fund provides some ideas of how you can spend your time on September 30.
For more, learn about reconciliACTION on their website.
Read the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (PDF) and commit yourself to the actions in it.
Educate yourself. Dig into the materials at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Check out this free handy map of First Nations territory in Canada.
Buy an Orange t-shirt to support residential school survivors.
Support the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
Donate to residential school survivors in British Columbia.
Take the 215 Pledge and be a voice urging Canada’s leaders and decisionmakers to take five concrete actions towards reconciliation.
Be a Settler that takes Action!
Here are some good child education resources from First Nations Child & Family Caring Society.
For the bookworms out there, here are some reading resources for young and old.
Sign the petition: We Demand Ground Penetrating Radar at all Historic Indian Residential School.
