September 30, 2024, marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by the Parliament of Canada. 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. This was done in response to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 80, which states that the federal government will work with Indigenous people to establish a statutory day to “honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
September 30 has been marked as Orange Shirt Day since 2013. 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. We join in encouraging all Canadians to wear orange to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of survivors.
We honour First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children and communities impacted by this system. During Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 26 to 30, we encourage schools to participate in events offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. On September 30, and throughout the preceding week, schools and school boards across Ontario, including students, staff, and school communities, will be commemorating the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, which more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were forced to attend between the 1870s and 1997.
The education sector has a critical role to play in Truth and Reconciliation. Educators have the opportunity to build knowledge and shape an understanding of the lasting impact of the Indian Residential School system. Nurturing overall awareness and appreciation for Indigenous histories, knowledge, perspectives and contributions is essential to reconciliation.
Many school boards have already begun this work by developing collaborative relationships with their Indigenous Education Councils, implementing Truth and Reconciliation Action Plans and/or Indigenous Education Strategic Plans, as well as incorporating Truth and Reconciliation actions into their Board Action Plans.
School boards and school authorities are honouring the day in different ways. This page will be updated with school board activities throughout the month of September:
Upper Grand DSB
This year, the Upper Grand District School Board will commemorate National Truth and Reconciliation Week from September 23-30 with the continued focus on learning and action. Educators and all board staff are invited to learn by participating in activities and live-streams from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, by reading the 94 Calls to Action and in turn, working towards meaningful individual and class commitments to action and change.
The Indigenous Education Team will be hosting two engaging virtual sessions during Truth and Reconciliation Week on September 25 with author and educator Peggy Janicki. Janicki wrote The Secret Pocket about her mother’s experience in residential school that highlights the ingenuity, brilliance, resistance and resilience of survivors. Peggy will speak to students in grades 4-8 in a virtual live-stream, followed by a professional development session for educators in the evening. Lesson plans have been provided to junior and intermediate classes, so classes can explore the text safely and appropriately.
Educators have been provided with an updated slide-deck of vetted digital and in-school resources organized by division. This slidedeck includes live-streams, opportunities for inquiry, exploration, research and action in classrooms, and suggestions for ways educators can continue their own learning.
Staff and students are encouraged to wear orange shirts on the 30th, to purchase shirts from Indigenous creators/businesses if interested and to participate in the activities recommended on the slidedeck. School staff can share their commitments and events through social media and/or directly with the Indigenous Education Department.
For parents, guardians, caregivers and families, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will again be offering free virtual ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions each day of Truth and Reconciliation Week. These 50-minute sessions will cover topics such as the health related impacts of the residential school system, allyship and confronting unconscious bias and a community perspective on the United Nations Declaration Rights of Indigenous Peoples. More information and registration can be accessed here.
If schools choose to fundraise, the Indigenous Education Team kindly requests funds be directed to Woodland Cultural Centre, the former residential school in Brantford or the Survivor’s Secretariat in Six Nations.
Additional Resources
OPSBA’s work on Advancing Reconciliation
Education resources from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
The Canadian Government’s Resources for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Turtle Concepts – Residential School workshops and professional development programs
Every Child Matters – Book Resources & More (PDF)
Goodminds.com – First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Books (Truth and Reconciliation)
Please remember that content associated with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can be triggering for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students, families and communities. Access to mental health and well-being services should be integrated into planning and can include the sharing of the Indian Residential School Crisis line: 1-800-721-0066.
