The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30th. This day is new to our calendars—implemented in recent years in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action intended to honour survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home, and to commemorate the grief and challenges experienced by their families and communities.
We understand the importance of raising awareness, and this is why this day is necessary, but it is also important to be mindful when considering what ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ really means. We must acknowledge hard truths, and we must reconcile the horrible history that was buried for so many years before we can truly move forward. The truth is, the Canadian government did not value Indigenous people, and indeed stripped generations of their languages, their cultures, and their identities. Acts of genocide were meant to destroy and replace Indigeneity—the perpetrators were extremely effective but did not fully succeed. We are still here. True Reconciliation needs to run deeper than making Land Acknowledgements, and we need more than a single calendar day to reflect on traumas of the past. The pain of so many has not passed and is not in the past. It still exists every day.
There has been some progress, and it is a direct result of our own resilience, our determination and the collaboration of Indigenous and non-indigenous people that have been champions for justice; those that have stood together to right the wrongs of a country built on stolen land and unmarked graves.
Our way forward should be one of self-determination and unity with our cousins from all over Turtle Island. Our partnerships and common goals will be the key to real reconciliation. We must work together to become less reliant on those that have been managing our affairs for far too long.
On September 30th, and indeed every day, be proud of who you are and where you came from. Consider our ancestors, the things that have been lost, and everything we are fighting to preserve. Consider your role in where we can go, united together. This is our home on NATIVE land. Let us come together to solemnly commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day with pride. We cannot change the past, but we can create a future we can all be proud of.
Important Links:
Understanding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1631130192216/1631130220404
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/