This September 30 will mark the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) in Canada.
It is a day in which we honour the survivors of residential schools, remember those lives who were lost as well as those lives who were forever impact by the horrific legacy of the Indian Residential School System, and remember the role that all of us have as a country, as organizations, and as individuals in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Since 2023, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is also recognized as a statutory holiday in BC. It is also a federal statutory holiday as well as recognized as a statutory holiday in Manitoba, Yukon, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and for provincial employees of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
In this current climate of residential school denialism and revisionism, largely emanating from right-wing mouthpieces and even some elected politicians in BC, it is more important now than ever to listen and show up for Indigenous voices.
One of the ways you can continue the path to supporting truth and reconciliation is through continued education. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will be hosting a series of online lunch and learns in the week leading up to NDTR (September 22-26).
You can find out more information on how to participate here.
We also encourage you to learn about the history of Orange Shirt Day, which is also observed on September 30 and raises awareness of the ongoing intergenerational impact of the residential school system on individuals, families, and communities. Click here to learn more.
Other ways you can actively participate on NDTR include wearing orange, attending a public event, or making a donation to an organization that supports survivors of the residential schools system such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, President
Brenda Chu, Secretary-Treasurer
Dimitri Ossinsky, Vice-President, ICBC
Rysa Kronebusch, Vice-President, Utilities
Christy Slusarenko, Vice-President, Combined Units
