About the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In June, the federal government announced the creation a new statutory holiday known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be recognized on September 30 each year. This day fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call-to-Action #80 and will serve as a day of remembrance, reflection, action and learning. Since 2013, September 30 has been known as Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the tragic history and long-standing effects of residential schools. 

Truth and Reconciliation Call-to-Action #80: We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 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.  

Here are some ideas to work into your planning for Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:  

Host a viewing of DWF’s discussion, September 30: the Inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Wear orange on September 30 to honour Survivors of residential school and those who never returned home. Support the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund by purchasing an orange t-shirt in our merch store or find a local Indigenous organization or artist to get your shirt from.
Tune in to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Every Child Matters webinar on September 30 
If your company or school is closed September 30, shift Orange Shirt Day activities to the week of September 27 or Secret Path Week (Oct 17-22) 
Host a reconciliACTION 
Listen to the stories of residential school Survivors from A Day to Listen

We can build a better Canada every day.

Let’s make sure reconciliation continues beyond September 30. Take reconciliACTION!

A reconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. ReconciliACTIONs aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share, and learn.

Some ways to take ReconciliACTION:

Purchase products from Indigenous-owned businesses.
Research the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in your region and learn the contributions they have made to your community.
Learn the land acknowledgement in your region or develop one of your own in consultation with Indigenous communities.

More ReconciliACTIONs Recommended Resources to Continue Learning

September 30

The Inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Exploring what this means for reconciliation in Canada

In anticipation of the newly established federal day of reflection, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, many people in Canada have been wondering what this day means.  DWF President and CEO, Sarah Midanik, will be hosting a discussion to explore this new day of reflection, the significance of September 30, what this means for reconciliation in Canada, and how we can participate meaningfully.  

Watch on Facebook Watch on YouTube

The discussion will include notable speakers:

Hillory Tenute

Interim Executive Director, Canadian Roots Exchange

About

Hillory Tenute Gi Chi’noodinkwe Chi’Nodinkwe Aapti Bebom N’gigikwe (She/Her/They/Them), is a white-Anishinaabekwe with Settler descent from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation located in Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario part of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory. She is CRE’s Executive Director, or Executive Auntie as she is commonly referred to as. She is a decolonizer, grassroots mobilizer, policy & #landback enthusiast. Hillory comes to CRE with over 11+ years of Evaluation, Policy Analysis, Research and Facilitation experience from working in collaboration with Indigenous and non-Indigenous settler communities across Turtle Island. As a proud Auntie, dog mom, pizza lover and teller of bad “dad jokes” (just ask her team!), Hillory also has a deep understanding of Indigenous, largely Ojibway-centric, traditional teachings of well-being, balance, humility, and reciprocity, such as mino-bimaadiziwinn (“the good life”) that guides her life in an effort to balance two worlds.

Bob Watts

Former Interim Executive Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, DWF Board Chair

About

A graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and fellow at the Harvard Law School, Robert (Bob) has been involved in Indigenous issues for more than 30 years. Bob is the Chief of Staff to the AFN National Chief, Perry Bellegarde. He is an adjunct professor and Distinguished Fellow at Queens University in the School of Policy Studies and is a member of the year Leadership Council to McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development Relations. He is also the Vice President of Indigenous Relations at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. In addition, he advises corporations and governments on reconciliation and Indigenous strategy.

Previously, he was Chief of Staff and Chief Executive Officer for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Interim Executive Director of the Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A former public servant he was an Assistant Deputy Minister with the federal government and senior executive with the province of Ontario.

He has taught, debated and lectured at a number of universities in Canada and the United States and at the Canada School of Public Service. Robert is of Mohawk and Ojibway ancestry and resides at the Six Nations Reserve.

Blair Cunningham

Orange Shirt Society Board Member

About

Blair is originally from the Peavine Metis Settlement in Northern Alberta and now lives in Calgary, Alberta in the Traditional Territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which today encompasses the Indigenous people of the Treaty 7 region in southern, Alberta: the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuu T’ina, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, and the Northwest Metis Homeland to Region 3.

Blair is employed with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology as a Career Advisor with Career Advancement Services. He has worked in Calgary’s post-secondary education sector since 2013.

He sits on the Orange Shirt Society Board of Directors and enjoys being able to work with the board as well as Phyllis Webstad, Ambassador/Founder of Orange Shirt Day.

The purpose of the Orange Shirt Society is as follows:

· To support Indian Residential School Reconciliation

· To create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Society activities

· To create awareness of the concept of “Every Child Matters”

Harriet Visitor

Chanie Wenjack’s Niece and DWF Board Member

About

Harriet Visitor is an experienced educator and community leader continuously striving to improve outcomes for youth. Harriet has over 30 years of experience working in and advocating with and for First Nations communities in education and social development. She has worked in the federal, provincial, and private school systems in Canada, and has been a leader in the development of the Secret Path curriculum that is to be distributed nationally this fall. Harriet is a natural leader and advocate and provides incredible guidance to the DWF Board as the representative from the Wenjack family.

Exclusive access to DWF subscribers: September 23 

Public access available on DWF social channels: September 30 

Recommended age of audience: 14+  

https://canadianroots.ca/

https://nctr.ca/

https://www.orangeshirtday.org/

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About DWF

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

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