Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. How will you mark the day?

A call to remember. A call to action

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 30, 2022
Lee Ann Waterman

It’s about trust. Our relationship with our readers is built on transparency, honesty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This article is part of that project.

A call to remember. A call to action.

These words, which appear on our front page, come from a joint statement by Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, released Aug. 29 when the Survivors’ Flag was raised on Parliament Hill.

A portion of that statement reads: “With this flag, residential school Survivors have created a powerful message for all Canadians. It is a call to remember and a call to action. It is setting a precedent for ensuring Survivors’ voices are heard. It’s our hope that everyone who sees the flag -- everyone who works on Parliament Hill and everyone who comes to visit -- will take the time to reflect on the meaning behind the flag and how they can continue to support the ongoing work of truth and reconciliation.”

Sept. 30 is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It falls on the same day as Orange Shirt Day. Observed since 2013, Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots Indigenous movement created by residential school survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad to raise awareness of the lasting impacts of residential schools. Orange was the colour of Webstad's shirt on her first day of residential school, a shirt that was taken away from her.

All Canadians have a role to play in truth and reconciliation, and observing Sept. 30 is a place to start.

Perhaps you are struggling with how to do that.

Start with remembering. Remember the children, families, communities who were -- and continue to be -- impacted by the residential school system.

Then, take action. That sounds big -- and it is -- but you can start small.

Commit to learning -- about the residential school system, about the shameful history of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, about the Indigenous Peoples whose traditional territory you live on, about the United Nations Declarations of the Rights of Indigenous People, about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.

Buy or borrow a book. Your local library will have some recommendations.

You’ll find more here. And here are two of mine: "A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools" from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and "A Mind Spread Out On the Ground" by Alicia Elliott.

Attend an event (live or virtual) in your community to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Plan to attend future events hosted by your local Indigenous community that welcome members of the public.

Wear an orange shirt and use it to start a conversation with your family, friends and colleagues about its significance.

Our Metroland editorial team has committed to taking its own actions, details of which I will share with you in the coming weeks. Among them is a commitment to educate ourselves and our readers on Indigenous history and current events.

Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. How will you mark the day?

We welcome your questions and value your comments. Email our trust committee at trust@metroland.com.

Lee Ann Waterman is director of content for Metroland communities. You can reach her at lawaterman@metroland.com.