National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Resources for Students and Families
September 27, 2021
The following content may cause distress and trigger strong emotions for anyone who may have been impacted by Residential Schools or experienced related trauma in their lives. The District’s priority is student health and well-being. Crisis support lines are available 24 hours daily including the National Indian Residential Schools Support Family Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419. For additional resources, please read here.
As we mark the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the District is sharing resources to help support students and their families to continue their learning. Please see the suggested books, video links, and age-appropriate information curated by our District staff with help from our Aboriginal Education Program.
What more can we all do?
1. Read books, watch videos, or check out additional resources.
Download the District’s SORA app to access a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction eBooks and audiobooks. Families can learn by reading and listening to a collection of stories from Indigenous authors curated and made available to students and families by the District Aboriginal Department. Instructions for SORA is here.
Young Children
- Video: When We Were Alone, read aloud by children’s author David Robertson here
- Video: Talking to Kids About Residential Schools here
Middle Aged Children
Teens & Adults
- Video: Namwayut: we are all one: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, animation here
- Video: Senator Murray Sinclair: How can Canadians work toward Reconciliation, CBC News here
- Website: Did you live near a Residential School? CBC News here
- PDF: Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Actions here
2. Wear an Orange Shirt
Find an orange shirt in your closet or purchase one from an Indigenous serving organization and wear it on September 30 or throughout the week. The purpose of the Orange Shirt Day campaign is to recognize survivors of Residential Schools and those we have lost. It is also a day to acknowledge that “Every Child Matters”. Learn more about Orange Shirt Day here.
3. Take part online or in person
- Observe the day by tuning in to the special broadcast and live stream put on by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 at 5:00 p.m. on APTN, CBC, CBC Gem. More info is here.
- Check your community calendar listings for online or in-person events happening during that week.
- Walk around the Derek Double Day Arboretum (21559 Fraser Highway) in Langley which has a display enabling visitors to reflect and honour the children found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.