National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, 30 September, aka Orange Shirt Day

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

September 30

In May 2021 the unmarked graves of 215 native children were found at a Residential school in British Columbia.

In June 2021 the Federal Government mandated September 30th as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Significance of September 30.

The day, the priests with the RCMP came to physically take the children from their families and communities.

During this observance of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it was evident there was something different about this gathering on Parliament Hill. I was touched by the thoughtful, peaceful way the Survivors of the residential schools spoke so eloquently of their experiences. There was sadness in their voices but no hate, no let’s get even. They simply want fairness, equality and acceptance in a pluralistic relationship with Canada. The speeches and songs were in Native languages, English and French. Mixed with the smell of smoke from the ceremonial fire, drumming, chanting and the erection of a Tipi, made for a unique shared experience all in a sea of orange shirts.

Important to the Indigenous community is to see the perpetrators of crimes charged. The Pope said he will come to Canada in 2022 to meet with survivors, their families and communities. To apologize and accept responsibility for the priests and nuns that physically and emotionally mistreated these innocent children. When the children died, their bodies were simply discarded and buried in unmarked graves. It is important that all the graves are discovered, all the remains named where possible and returned to the children’s communities. Public buildings and statues of the elected officials responsible for these crimes are being renamed and removed.

The Canadian Federal Government is accepting its responsibility, pledging $40 bn in compensation for indigenous children and the families who suffered while in foster care. The Catholic Church must accept their responsibility for the burials and the attempted genocide of the Indigenous population.

This day proved they failed to 'remove the Indian from the children' as shown by the display of First Nation arts, crafts, poetry, music, food and dance.

Governor General, Mary May Simon, the first indigenous woman in the vice-regal role, said in a statement the day would be about "learning from our lived experiences" and "creating the necessary space for us to heal".
"These are uncomfortable truths, and often hard to accept, but the truth also unites us as a nation, brings us together to dispel anger and despair, and embrace justice, harmony and trust instead."

USA-Canada / Canada-Ontario

Lat: 45° 25' 26.988" N
Long: 76° 42' 57.86" W

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: Medium. Nearby, but not to the last decimal.

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1st time using the on camera mic. I apologize for the poor audio quality.

The new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation holiday will coincide with Orange Shirt Day an indigenous grassroots-led day of remembrance.

The first day at residential school, the new orange shirt Phyllis Webstad's grandmother gave her was taken from her. Her hair was cut, she was forbidden to speak in her native language, practice her customs or play the games she knew with other children.

Orange Shirt Day honours victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools, which sought to forcefully assimilate indigenous children. All Canadians are encouraged to mark the occasion by wearing orange to commemorate the thousands of indigenous children robbed of their culture and freedom.

Creating a new federal holiday to honour survivors, their families and their communities was one of the 94 calls to action delivered in a 2015 report by the government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Survivors recount abuse in Canadian residential schools

• Six years old, I was imprisoned here
• No reconciliation without truth
• Abused and forcibly assimilated