National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We recognize that reconciliation isn’t one day of wearing an orange t-shirt, but an ongoing, daily process of decolonization and re-Indigenization.

Together with folks from our Indigenous Advisory Circle, FoodShare’s Indigenous Action Coordinator, Shar-Dey Phipps-Walker, has thoughtfully curated this list of resources to read, watch, and listen to, as well as actions to take in support of Indigenous communities.

1. Read a first-hand account 

• A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada | Phil Fontaine, Aimée Craft and the TRC
• They Came for the Children: Canada, Aboriginal Peoples, and Residential Schools
• The Survivors Speak: A Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• Where are the children?
• Theodore Fontaine, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools: A Memoir (2010)
• Bev Sellars, They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School (2012)
• Edmund Metatawabin with Alexandra Shimo, Up Ghost River: A Chief’s Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History (2015)
• Joseph Auguste (Augie) Merasty, The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir (2015/2017)
• Isabelle Knockwood, Out of the Depths: The Experiences of Mi’kmaw Children at the Indian Residential School at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia (1992/2015)
• The Inconvenient Indian
• The Boy From Buzwah A life in Indian Education 

2. Understand policy gaps 

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action
• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report 
• Calls to Action Accountability: A 2022 Status Update on Reconciliation

3. Watch important stories 

• We Were Children
• Stolen Children | Residential School Survivors Speak Out
• Kamloops Residential School Survivors Recall Students Going Missing, Digging Of Graves In Orchard
• “The Stranger” Official Video – Gord Downie – Secret Path
• A Day to Listen: Amplifying Indigenous Voices

4. Listen to contemporary voices

• Telling Our Twisted Histories. Words connect us. Words hurt us. Indigenous histories have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Host Kaniehti:io Horn brings us together to decolonize our minds– one word, one concept, one story at a time.
• Unreserved is the radio space for Indigenous community, culture, and conversation. Host Rosanna Deerchild takes you straight into Indigenous Canada, from Halifax to Haida Gwaii, from Shamattawa to Ottawa, introducing listeners to the storytellers, culture makers and community shakers from across the country.
• 2 Crees in a Pod explores a deep conversation about Indigenous knowledge and how this way of life and learning is critical for Indigenous people today.
• A Tribe Called Geek is a nerd-culture podcast that prides itself on its “Indigenerdity.” The ATCG website covers everything from comics, STEM, cosplaying, art, entertainment and more.

5. Wear an orange shirt and understand why 

When she was six, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad had a brand new orange shirt for her first day of school, bought for her by her grandmother. When she arrived at residential school, she was stripped and her clothes were taken away, including her orange shirt. The shirt was never returned. To Phyllis, the colour orange was a reminder of her residential school experiences: “how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.” Learn more about her story.

6. Support a grassroots group with a donation

• Giwaabamin Free Street Clinic
• Turtle Protectors
• Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction
• Nii’kinaaganaa Foundation
• Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin – They Feed The People

7. Buy Indigenous art and products, support Indigenous artists and makers 

• Native Arts Society
• The Cedar Basket

8. Attend an event to celebrate Indigenous culture

• Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre’s Legacy Gathering at Nathan Phillips Square — A free, family-friendly annual event taking place on September 29th & 30.
• Tkaronto Open – Union Station West Wing 65 Front Street West A special gathering to celebrate Indigenous culture and present the highest level of showmanship among local Indigenous dancers through performance and competition.