National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022
September 20, 2022
On behalf of TRCA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group, please find below information related to TRCA’s participation and acknowledgement of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation leading up to and on Friday, September 30 as we, along with communities across Canada, take time to be reflect on Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.
Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools within indigenous communities is a vital component of the reconciliation process and TRCA is honouring the importance of the day by taking time to reflect, listen and learn about the history of the residential schools system in Canada.
To mark Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation TRCA staff will have the opportunity to participate in a number of different in-person and virtual learning opportunities that best suit their schedules and availability.
In response to staff feedback from 2021, we have continued to work with Dr. Hopi Martin, an indigenous educator who works with TRCA on integrating indigenous perspectives and place-making into our facilities, spaces and programs, to develop a series of in-person and virtual learning experiences that are offered at various times and locations to better meet the diverse working hours and needs of our team:
Event #1:
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION SACRED CIRCLE AT LAKE ST. GEORGE
Friday September 23, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. (in-person and live streamed)
Event #2:
VIRTUAL SHARING CIRCLE WITH MARIEVAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVOR
Monday September 26, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (live streamed)
Event #3:
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION SHARING CIRCLE AT KORTRIGHT CENTRE
Tuesday September 27, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (in-person and live streamed)
Event #4:
COMMUNITY DRUMMING CIRCLE AT SILVERTHORN EARLY LEARNING EARTH CENTRE
Thursday September 29, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (in-person and live streamed)
Event #5:
SUNRISE CEREMONY AND WATER WALK AT BLACK CREEK PIONEER VILLAGE
Thursday September 30, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. (in-person and live streamed)
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE EVENTS
Please ensure to work with your supervisor or manager in identifying and registering for a learning or commemoration opportunity that is appropriate for you and your work schedule.
On September 30, to acknowledge Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, TRCA staff are encouraged to wear an orange shirt, as appropriate based on job duties or other specific health and safety or operational requirements.
The orange shirt recognizes and raises awareness about the history and legacy of the residential school system and originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. In 1973, on her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, BC, Phyllis’s new orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, was taken from her and never returned. 40 years later, on September 30th, 2013, Phyllis spoke publicly for the first time about her experience, and thus began the Orange Shirt Day movement.
Over the coming weeks, to help raise awareness and understanding of the residential school system in Canada, staff will also be provided with resources for further learning and I would encourage all members of the TRCA team to read and reflect on the Calls to Action contained in the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
In addition to the above, on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, TRCA will be launching Indigenous Awareness Training, which will be available through TRCA’s Learning Management System (LMS) within the Ceridian Dayforce platform. All employees will receive an email notification indicating the launch of the training from notify@dayforce.com. Please note that this course is mandatory and must be completed by December 16, 2022.
On a final note, Black Creek Pioneer Village is once again hosting Hope and Healing a temporary art installation created by Métis encaustic sculptor Tracey-Mae Chambers and asks viewers to look through her lens, to see the world through another person’s perspective, and consider how we are all connected and can take steps towards decolonization. Tracey-Mae Chambers creates site-specific art installations in outdoor spaces across Canada constructed with red string that is reused at each location, with this year’s installation in First House at Black Creek. I encourage you to visit before the exhibit ends on October 2.
Sincerely,
Darryl Gray (he/him)
Director, Education and Training