Hello Friends,
Today, September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Communities throughout Canada gathered in ceremony to remember the children who were lost and those who survived with moments of silence, stories, and song.
Sift.
Sift through oral and written history to better understand the history and legacy of Indian residential schools.
If you were unable to attend one of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation ceremonies, several were filmed and can be streamed online.
You can also watch this CBC special (in English, French and Indigenous languages with subtitles) in which:
JUNO Award-winning artist Elisapie hosts a special that honours the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples affected by the tragedies of the residential school system in Canada, with musical tributes and ceremonies in Indigenous communities across the land.
In May 2021, I curated a comprehensive list of resources about the history and legacy of the Indian residential schools in Canada. You can read it here.
Shift.
Let art, music, and literature shift or deepen your understanding of reconciliation.
Truth and reconciliation requires decolonization. I believe that, and I am not alone.
Listen to “Decolonize Yourself” by David Vest.
Lift.
Take action and support organizations committed to creating a more just future.
Please consider supporting the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
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Thank you my friends.
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