September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s also Orange Shirt Day, a day on which people are encouraged to wear orange to honour survivors and to reflect on the tragic legacy of residential schools.
Pictured above is The Survivors’ Flag, shared by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The Survivors’ Flag is an expression of remembrance, meant to honour residential school Survivors and all the lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. Each element depicted on the flag was carefully selected by Survivors from across Canada, who were consulted in the flag’s creation.
Please visit their website to learn more about this beautiful and poignant work.
As settlers, there are a number of activities and events planned that can help us to reflect upon the harm official government policies, systemic racism, and individual actions have visited upon Indigenous peoples, and aid in reflection and awareness.
Here is a selection:
The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation, which announced earlier this year that unmarked graves of 215 children were found at a former residential school in Kamloops, has created a video to help people learn the Secwépemc Honour Song and is inviting people across Canada to drum and sing, whether at home or at work, on September 30 at 2:15 p.m.
At noon on September 30, VAG presents Xweýene:msta:m ?əkwəsqwel, seýeḿ (translation: call to witness/listen to respected one), a performance co-created by Tsatsu Stalqayu, Mortal Coil and Butterflies in Spirit. Taking place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (formerly known as Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza), the work blends traditional Coast Salish song and regalia with contemporary music and performance.
The Bill Reid Gallery is open from 11am-3pm on September 30, and is hosting a small pop-up exhibition by Ts’msyen artist Morgan Asoyuf, with original drawings and writings around her new children’s book, Learning My Rights With Mousewoman, to October 3.
In Whistler, the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre will have speakers who are residential school surviors, and a seven-foot totem will be unveiled to commemorate the children of residential schools—survivors and those missing and buried in unmarked graves—from noon – 5pm.
Orchestras Canada has compiled a playlist of Indigenous Artists and Composers on YouTube, that you can watch here.
If you’d like to spend the day reflecting quietly, here is a list of resources to guide our learning:
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has educational programs and teaching resources.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report findings.
- The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has a wealth of information and services for survivors.
- IPAA: An Awkward Call to Arms.
- Canada Council for the Arts: {Re}conciliation.
- Reconciliation Canada.
- Indigenous Canada (UAlberta Course).
