September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honouring the thousands of lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities and prompting all Canadians to continue conversations about the truths of Treaties between First Nations and the Crown, the Métis and Inuit Land Claims, and the legacy of the residential school system.
Particularly as educators, we must reckon with our sector’s history of institutional racism towards Indigenous Peoples and current inequities within our educational systems. To do this, we commit to listening to and learning from Indigenous communities and leaders, to upholding the principles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and acknowledging and acting upon the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s (TRC) Calls to Action in education.
We are grateful for the leadership of our Committee to Support Indigenous Adult Learners and thankful for the Indigenous partners and speakers who share their knowledge with us.
Here is a list of recommended resources:
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Fact sheet – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (justice.gc.ca)
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation homepage
Books on Residential Schools from Good Minds Books
Orange Shirt Society Videos with Phyllis Webstad
OISE National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Resource List
First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls for Reconciliation in Education
For survivors—Residential School Survivor Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419