National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

30 September 2021

This statement is downloadable as a PDF here

 

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day of remembrance and an opportunity for Canadians to acknowledge the intergenerational harm caused by the Indian Residential School system. As children are returning to school to begin a new year of learning, we wear orange to honour and remember the experiences and loss of the thousands of children who were stolen from their families and placed in residential schools, including those who were never to return home again.

There are many ways to reflect and remember. Here are a few of those ways:

  • One of the best ways to reflect and remember is to educate yourself about the need for Truth and Reconciliation and the history of residential schools in Canada. Some useful and free educational resources are the 黑料不打烊’s stories and resources, the 黑料不打烊’s free online Indigenous Canada course, virtual programs hosted by the , and Uncovered: Truths about Indian Residential Schools on the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology’s website.
  • (Re)Commit Yourself to Action. Review the and commit yourself to supporting these calls in a way that is appropriate for you. Calls to Action 71-76 are specifically related to locating the graves of missing children.
  • Make a donation to or to the in support of our continued efforts in helping communities to locate the unmarked graves of the children who never made it home from Residential Schools.
  • Continue to advocate for change through amplifying Indigenous voices about key issues such as , , child welfare, , and ongoing in Canada.  
  • Connect with your Indigenous friends and family, or reach out to support or volunteer with local organizations that work with Indigenous communities.

At the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, we are committed to taking action. Our team is supporting many Indigenous communities as they search for the unmarked graves of their relatives. We believe that truth must be told before reconciliation is possible and those responsible for the residential school system must be held accountable. Join us in this commitment to truth and reconciliation.