On September 30, we recognize the first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is an opportunity for all Canadians to continue the important conversation about Residential Schools and create meaningful discussion about their effects and the legacy they have left behind. To mark this important day, this morning, Chief Stacey Laforme, of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Eddy Robinson, Halton’s Indigenous Advisor held a Sacred Sunrise Ceremony at the Halton Regional Centre. These actions are an essential part of Halton’s responsibility and ongoing work towards reconciliation and commemoration.
September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a day to encourage meaningful conversations about Residential Schools and to honour Residential School Survivors. Orange Shirt Day was created in 2013 as a result of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in May 2013. St. Joseph's Mission was a Residential School from 1891 to 1981 located in British Columbia's Cariboo Region. As spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told her story of her first day at residential school when her new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl.
Earlier this month, Regional Council approved a resolution to formally recognize September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Halton.
I encourage everyone to learn more about the impact of Residential Schools and Indigenous history and culture. There are many ways you can learn more, hear about the experiences of survivors and acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day), such as:
- wear something orange or display orange today to show your support;
- explore blogs and online resources:
- watch the film “We Were Children (external link)” through the National Film Board of Canada (external link);
- read important documents and resources including;
- the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Final Report (external link) and 94 Calls to Action (external pdf);
- the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (external link); and
- the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children (external link) and its 231 individual Calls for Justice.
For more information about Halton’s ongoing work to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous People and Communities, please visit halton.ca.
By recognizing this important day, we continue the discussion about Truth and Reconciliation and honour all Indigenous Peoples and their contributions that make Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.