Episode #156: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we demand action from our elected officials. We demand that all children are taught the true history of the land upon which we live. We stand in solidarity with and alongside all people across this land in demanding justice, accountability and equity. We are calling for a fair, unbiased justice system which includes reparations from any government and authority involved in violence against racialized communities, particularly black and indigenous communities.This a a day to honour residential school survivors and their families and to remember those that didn’t make it.
Transcript:
Welcome to a brand new episode of the Borderless Voices podcast, presented by the FCJ Refugee Centre.
The land we gather on as FCJ Refugee Centre is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa Bands.
Today we would like to speak on the topic of solidarity, accountability and reconciliation. According to CTV News, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which released its final report on the residential school system in 2015, says at least one in every 50 students died, with 4,100 having officially died, although the number is believed to be much higher. To date, more than 1,800 confirmed or suspected unmarked graves have been identified.
We must reflect upon the true and terrible foundations upon which Canada was built, on stolen land, with stolen sons and daughters. On July 1st, we do not celebrate. On September 30th, we will not celebrate. We reflect. We mourn. We stand in solidarity.
This time demands from us thoughtful consideration on 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.
Racism, and in particular anti-black racism and anti-indigenous racism, which has been promoted by white supremacy and colonialism, is the very foundation upon which both Canada and the United States have been built.
The incidents we have seen in recent years, incidents repeated so many times over the course of weeks, months and years, have been a scary reminder of the realities faced by black and indigenous people. It is a reminder that the barbaric colonial displacement and genocide executed against North America’s First Nations and the enslavement of African peoples continues to directly affect every person, particularly racialized communities all across North America.
We stand in solidarity with and alongside all people across this land in demanding justice, accountability and equity. We are calling for a fair, unbiased justice system which includes reparations from any government and authority involved in violence against racialized communities, particularly black and indigenous communities. We recognize the additional vulnerabilities experienced by racialized women and youth and the tremendous systemic barriers faced by these populations.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, originally and still colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, is a Canadian statutory holiday to recognize the horrendous impacts of the Canadian residential school system. This year marks the third year of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The name Orange Shirt Day is tied to Phyllis Webstad’s personal story, that she shared for the first time in April 2013 during the preparation for when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission went to Williams Lake. Those involved with the event decided to honour the Orange Shirt as a symbol of the effects of residential schools and the need for Every Child Matters. It is a day for thoughts and discussions on remembering, recovering and reconciling.
Orange Shirt Day is a day to have conversation about all aspects of residential schools. It is a day to honour residential school survivors and their families and to remember those that didn’t make it. It is also an opportunity to highlight progress in the reconciliation of Indigenous people and Canadian society. These actions are necessary to bring about healing for the future relationship in Canada.
Originally, Orange Shirt Day was focused on the Cariboo Chilcotin region, but thanks to social media it continues to grow and have a life of its own and has grown into what it is today.
September 30th was chosen because it is the time of year that the children were taken away from their homes and their families to go to the residential schools. The 30th was chosen because they wanted teachers and students to settle in time for teachers to teach students about the history and time for them to plan an event.
The Orange Shirt Society has produced a number of videos available on their website for the purpose of teaching the past history and bringing understanding of the Canadian residential school system and its effects on Indigenous peoples. We encourage all listeners to learn more of this subject using these Indigenous-made resources.
In closing, we would like to encourage all listeners of this episode to find a solidarity event near you this Orange Shirt Day and participate in reconciling the history that has allowed us to be on this land with the progress that needs to be made.
Thank you for listening.
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