September 30th – Truth & Reconciliation Day

The NSGEU will be closed on Friday, September 30, 2022 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Truth & Reconciliation Day is a new Federal statutory holiday, which recognizes the tragic history of residential schools in Canada, and honours the survivors. There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1831 and 1998. The last facility closed less than 25 years ago. Survivors have rightfully advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harms caused by these institutions. So far, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has documented 4,118 children who died at residential schools, as part of its work to implement the TRC’s Call to Action 72 to create a national death register and public-facing memorial register.

This day is also “Orange Shirt Day,” which is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.

On this day, all Canadians are encouraged to wear orange, as the orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

We are all Treaty people. As such, all Canadians have a responsibility to familiarize themselves with the 94 calls to action that emerged from the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Here are a few resources for you to review:

• Calls to Action: https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
• Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future (full report): https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Executive_Summary_English_Web.pdf

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation also has published all of their reports online: https://nctr.ca/records/reports/

If you are interested in learning more about the history, languages, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples across Canada, please visit this site: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1621447127773/1621447157184