Kwe’,
Tomorrow, on September 30, King’s and people across the country will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. This is a time to commemorate the dark history of residential schools and to honour the many students, families and communities affected. On this day, we grieve alongside those who survived the atrocities of the residential school system and for the students who never made it home—and acknowledge the painful legacy of residential schools and the enduring trauma for so many Indigenous people.
This is the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, established in 2021 in response to one of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. This vital component of the reconciliation process requires our active participation—by attending local activities and gatherings organized to commemorate the day, and by educating ourselves and learning from Indigenous voices.
Here are some educational resources and events to consider:
At King’s
- Today, September 29 at 3 p.m., members of the King’s community wearing orange shirts will gather on the Library steps for a photo—everyone is welcome.
- On September 30, the Every Child Matters flag will be the only flag on the main flagstaff at King’s, where it will fly all night. On Wednesday, October 1, we will fly the Mi’kmaq Grand Council flag on the main flagstaff in honour of Treaty Day. The Every Child Matters flag will move to the library flagpole for the month of October in honour of Mi’kmaw History Month.
- Books on Truth and Reconciliation available at the King’s Co-op Bookstore.
Throughout Kjipuktuk
- The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre will offer resources and hands-on activities geared towards taking reconciliatory action at the neighbourhood level, hosted by Every One Every Day Halifax.
- The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is screening a looped episode from Neqotkuk Elder Dr. Imelda Perley’s documentary series about Indigenous Women in Atlantic Canada, Women of This Land. The episode opens with a sweat lodge ceremony for the children of residential schools.
Additional Resources
- Videos from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- APTN, The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Algonquin Nation have produced a 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Orange Shirt Society and the story of Orange Shirt Day
- Reconciliation: A Starting Point mobile app
- Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s, a podcast by Dr. Connie Walker, DCL’24
- Additional reconciliation resources available on the King’s site
However you choose to participate in reconciliation on September 30, please—above all—show support for the many in our community who are grieving on this day. Indigenous Support and Outreach Coordinator Emily Pictou-Roberts is available to provide resources and support, along with Director of Equity and Community Supports Karen Mutyabule, Interim Sexual Health and Safety Officer Miriam Bonello MacQuarrie and Student Support Advisor Isaac Wright.
Wela’lioq,
William Lahey
President and Vice-Chancellor
Emily Pictou-Roberts
Indigenous Support and Outreach Coordinator
Karen Mutyabule
Director of Equity and Community Supports
