“Reconciliation includes anyone with an open mind and an open heart who is willing to look into the future with a new way” – Chief Joseph
What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
September 30th has been formally declared the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada, as a direct response to the 94 Calls of Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. This is a day of mourning to recognize the intergenerational harm the Indian Residential school system caused children, Survivors of residential schools, and their. Public commemoration of this tragic history, and its ongoing impacts, is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
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Why Orange Shirts? Why September 30th?
Over 150, 000 children are estimated to have attended residential schools in Canada between 1880 and 1996, and over 6,000 children died in these schools. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was originally called 'Orange Shirt Day', a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, B.C., in May 2013. It grew out of the story of Phyllis Webstad of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission as a 6 year old, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. September has been chosen as a time of year to commemorate and honour these children, because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools. This has been declared a national day of mourning because we want to ensure that we are passing on the many stories like that of Phyllis, and to learn more about our full history as a nation. More than 1.4 million people in Canada identify themselves as an Indigenous person. Our commitment to honouring days like this one are public ways that we can demonstrate our commitment to the reconciliation process in Canada. |
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What's happening at Moscrop this week?
This week at Moscrop, we invite our school community to engage in a week of events, reflections, and action as we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We are all learning in this work, and we encourage those to enter in as they see fit.
On September 30th, there are various opportunities to participate in public and online events in the community including:
- Staff and students are encouraged to wear orange shirts as much as possible through the week, and especially on Wednesday and Friday. You will also see other visible symbols that students are creating including orange bracelets, orange felt hearts, and art displays being created by classrooms and students around the school.
- There are many activities organized throughout the week for our school community to take part in. This will culminate in a school-wide assembly on Thursday, September 29th.
On September 30th, there are various opportunities to participate in public and online events in the community including:
- Drum for the Children – an online drumming and singing event at 2:15 pm led by Tk’emlups te Secwepemc to honour the missing children of residential schools. There is a video with a song to learn in advance.
- In-person gathering in Vancouver – 9 am march from the Aboriginal Friendship Centre at Commercial and Hastings; 10:30 ceremony at Grandview Park on Commercial Drive.
- Pipe Ceremony honouring Residential School Survivors in New Westminster – 4-6pm
- Vancouver Mural Fest – Take a walk through the city to different spots that highlight Indigenous artists
- Watch the virtual live-stream of the national event ‘Remember Me’ that is taking place in Ottawa