Truth & Reconciliation
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation September 30th
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is designated as an opportunity to ‘recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.’ It was originally proposed in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which under Action 80 called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish a statutory holiday “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
You may already know that September 30 has been observed since 2013 as Orange Shirt Day, a movement to recognizing the colonial legacy of residential schools and the commitment to the continuous process of reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day recalls the experience of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad, who at six was stripped of her shiny new orange shirt on her first day attending the St. Joseph Mission Residential School near Williams Lake, BC. The date of September 30 was chosen because it was the time of year when Indigenous children were removed from their families and forced to attend residential schools.
Website Resources
Below, Caledon Public Library has provided a list of resources as starting points for further learning and education about Truth and Reconciliation and the Residential School System in Canada. This is by no means a comprehensive list and we encourage those looking for more information to talk to one of our Reference staff members.
Many of these websites and resources may contain very sensitive subject matter and may trigger negative memories for survivors and their families. We advise people to use discretion when viewing or showing them.
In the event of immediate distress, please call the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.
Land Acknowledgement
A territorial or land acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Click here to view Caledon Public Library’s Land Acknowledgement.
