01/10/2022
Every child matters✊
September 30, 2022, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Today we honour the survivors of Canadian residential schools and the families and communities impacted by this dark and painful part of Canada's history.
Spanning over 160 years, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to attend residential schools, where they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse and stripped of their culture, language, and family ties.
Take time today to reflect and learn about Indigenous history in Canada, raise awareness of the impacts of these schools, and learn about the steps to reconciliation.
It is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led initiative which was started to recognize the history of residential schools, as former student Phyllis Webstad had her orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a residential school in 1973. Wearing an orange shirt shows solidarity and support that Every Child Matters.
Visit the resources below to learn more about steps to reconciliation and the meaning behind this day.
🧡 Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada: https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/
🧡 Reconciliation resources (including the booklist): https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1400782178444/1529183710887
🧡 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Canadian Heritage): https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
🧡 What is Orange Shirt Day? (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSLlE4uRXRY
🧡 Orangeshirtday.org: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/
🧡 The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/
🧡 First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness 24/7 Help Line: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
The NHPC office is closed today in recognition.
