September 28, 2021

This Thursday, September 30 marks the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This important day has been created as an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools - which over 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend between the 1870s and 1997. September 30 was chosen because it was the time of year when Indigenous children were removed from their families and forced to attend the church-run, government-funded residential schools.

In the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's (TRC) final report detailing the terrible history of the residential school system, one outcome of the report was a document detailing 94 calls to action. Call to Action #80 is in reference to this Thursday's National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. 

As an organization, we respect the TRC’s recommendation and feel wholeheartedly that this day is long overdue and deserves the additional weight and meaning. As such, Egale's offices will be closed this Thursday, September 30 to honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

As individuals, we can do our part to learn about the history of residential schools. Through reviewing educational resources and listening to the stories being told by Survivors, we can become better allies and strengthen our relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Included below are resources to guide your education:

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action [report]
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission 6-volume Final Report (2015) [report]
• Former Senator and Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair’s statement on the discovery at the former Residential School site in Kamloop [video]
• Truth and Reconciliation Week provided by National Council for Truth and Reconciliation [workshops, videos, and activities]

Helen Kennedy, Executive Director