Episode #169: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Today, September 30, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It is a time to recognize and commemorate the intergenerational harm that residential schools caused to Indigenous families and communities, and to honour those who have been affected by this injustice. A message from Tsering Lhamo, Co-Executive Director of the FCJ Refugee Centre.
Transcript:
Welcome to a brand new episode of the Borderless Voices podcast, presented by the FCJ Refugee Centre.
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September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It is a time to recognize and commemorate the intergenerational harm that residential schools caused to Indigenous families and communities, and to honour those who have been affected by this injustice.
It is a day for education and reflection, to acknowledge the tragic history of the residential schools and the children who never made it home, and to commemorate survivors and their families.
FCJ Refugee Centre is located in Tkaronto, now known as Toronto, which in Mohawk means “where there are trees standing in the water.”
Today, Tkaronto is covered under Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties. It is the traditional territories of many First Peoples, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.
These nations continue to experience ongoing colonization and displacement– where land acknowledgements are offered in place of land itself.
This territory is part of “the Dish with One Spoon” wampum, a Treaty made between the Anishinaabe, Mississauga, and Haudenosaunee, where nations entered into an agreement to protect the land and responsibly care for its resources in harmony together.
As settlers, newcomers, refugees, and Indigenous peoples, we have all been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect.
With the discovery of an ever increasing number of burial sites, and the remains of now more than 10000 children’s bodies discovered, we must have a national awakening of truth, accountability, and active reconciliation.
The establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was in response to the 80th call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission of Canada. Recognition of the harms caused by residential schools remains a vital part of the reconciliation process.
We must reflect upon the true and terrible foundation upon which Canada was built.
On September 30th we will not celebrate.
We reflect. We mourn.
We stand in solidarity.
This time demands from us thoughtful consideration of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Report.
We must demand action from our elected officials.
We must demand that all children are taught the true history of the land upon which we live.
As September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, which is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.”
We encourage everyone to wear your orange shirt in reflection and to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
And finally, we encourage all the Canadian residents to use this National Day to learn more about the Truth and Reconciliation calls to Action and commit to reconciliation.
Thank you
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