“Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools and their families and communities. Public commemoration of our tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.” – Government of Canada.
1. The Truth of our History
In Canada, we are becoming more and more aware and conscientious of the impact that our presence has on Canadian lands. We were not here first, and we must honour and respect that. However, regardless of the enormous leaps in progress that we have made, there is still much to be done.
2. Showing our Support for Indigenous Communities
How can we show our support for our Indigenous brothers and sisters? Learning about Indigenous culture, listening to their stories, learning about who they are and celebrating them the way they want to be celebrated through wearing the colour orange is just a start.
We can also do this by ensuring that issues affecting Indigenous communities are brought to the attention of those who can do something about it. It is not only about showing our appreciation to the people before us, whose lands we are on and using, but demonstrating that we as a community are here to support them.
3. Actionable Support
Remember that our support cannot only exist for one day but daily. Otherwise, our support will only be symbolic rather than actionable; in the long run, symbolic support doesn’t help anyone.
Linked below are some resources that you can go to for further information on the day itself as well as how you can show your support:
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
Every Child Matters.
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