National Day of Truth & Reconciliation

Today I’m thinking about the Indigenous leaders who have driven the work of truth and reconciliation in Canada. We have a roadmap towards better relations thanks to residential school survivors who called for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to be established as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Their understanding of the need for healing in our country and their vision for what the TRC could provide us all is something I’m incredibly grateful for.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation reminds us that “The creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just one single step on a long path ahead that requires all people in this country to travel together."

There’s a need for settlers to take on more of the work of reconciliation, and there are many Indigenous voices sharing how we can do this best. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has a range of materials to support this journey. Some resources I have found most helpful in taking the first step in understanding the truth of both the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools are the TRC Summary Report, Richard Wagamese’s Keeper’n Me, and A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Allicia Elliot. You can also tune in to a one hour special airing on APTN, CBC, CBC Gem and CBC Radio One this evening to honour the stories of Indigenous peoples who have been impacted by residential schools. 

Today I reflect and recommit to the work of reconciliation and encourage others to do the same.