Honouring Truth & Reconciliation Day

 Honouring the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Day

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, acknowledging the lasting, intergenerational impact of residential schools, while honouring the process of reconciliation. It is intended as a day for education and reflection. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has grown from Orange Shirt Day - a grass-roots movement and a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, in the spring of 2013. It was sparked by the account of a young girl, Phyllis, having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission. On September 30, we wear orange to remember the experiences of the children taken to residential schools.

For more than 50 years, Trent has been a leader in Indigenous education and incorporating Indigenous teachings and perspectives into curricular and extra-curricular programming. We are committed to providing education in Indigenous history, traditions, cultures, and Indigenous knowledges (IK) for our students and broader community. To advance the goals of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Day, we have pulled together a variety of resources to assist members of the Trent community to learn, reflect, and take action to advance reconciliation.

 

Events on campus

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There are a number of events leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Trent University will formally observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a campus ceremony in Durham on Friday, September 29, and in Peterborough on Monday, October 2. 

Durham 

Events leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observances

• Every Child Matters: Durham Library Display Case
  September 11 - September 30
  • The First Peoples House of Learning team and the Library and Learning Centre have created an educational display on residential schools. 
• Streaming of The Truth in Truth & Reconciliation: Film Screening & Conversation with Day School Survivors
  September 28, 7:30 p.m.
  • A screening of The Honour of Senator Murray Sinclair, followed by a conversation with Michi Saagiig day school survivors Lorenzo Whetung, Fred Taylor and Arnold Taylor. Moderated by Dr. Jackson Pind, assistant professor, Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies
    • In person: A 125, Building A
    • Virtual Registration (Zoom)

Friday, September 29 program 

• Closed Sacred Fire 10:00 a.m. - noon, Tipi behind Building A
  • Open to Indigenous members of the Trent community only.
• Community Reflection 11:30 a.m., Building A Atrium
  • Remarks from Dean Scott Henderson, Dawn Lavel-Harvard, and Mary Anne Caibaiosai.
• Open Scared Fire noon - 3:00 p.m., Tipi behind Building A
  • Open to all members of the Trent Durham community. 
• Medicine Garden Rock Painting 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., outside the Tipi behind Building A 
  • Paint your own rock to contribute to the new medicine garden on campus. 

Peterborough 

Events leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observances

• Otonabee College Indigenous Story Series (@otonabee_college)

• Trent FoodService Indigenous Menu
  September 18 - September 22

  • Trent Food Services will be offering an Indigenous-inspired menu daily in Peter Robinson Dining Hall in Gzowski College, open to all in the Trent Community.  
  • An Indigenous-inspired premium dinner will be available for purchase in Peter Robinson Dining Hall in Gzowski College on Wednesday, September 20.
• It Begins with Children: Bata Library Display Case 
  September 23 - October 6 
  • Bata Library and Archives has curated an educational display of Indigenous items centred on the lives of children.
• Indigenous Artisan Market
  September 27, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Bata Podium
  • Organized by the TCSA, this vendor market features Indigenous artists, crafters and vendors. 
• The Truth in Truth & Reconciliation: Film Screening & Conversation with Day School Survivors
  September 28, 7:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.)
  • A screening of The Honour of Senator Murray Sinclair, followed by a conversation with Michi Saagiig day school survivors Lorenzo Whetung, Fred Taylor and Arnold Taylor. Moderated by Dr. Jackson Pind, assistant professor, Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies
    • In Person: Stohn Hall (Room: 1.22), Trent Student Centre
    • Virtual Registration (zoom)

Monday, October 2 program

• Sunrise Ceremony 6:30 a.m., Mnidoowag A'Kiing Traditional Area
  • In support with Otonabee College
• Heart Garden Reflection 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Kerr House, Traill College
• LEC Community Conversations: Walk & Chalk 10:00 a.m. - noon, Lady Eaton Bridge
• Gzowski College Three Sisters Community Lunch noon, Gzowski College Quad, while supplies last
• Community Sacred Fire noon – 4:00 p.m., Champlain College Fire Pit
• Campus Reflection & Moment of Silence 2:00 p.m., Champlain College Fire Pit

To support the Trent community in actively participating in the events, the University has created video tutorials for smudging and participating in a sacred fire. 

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the flags at both campuses will be lowered to half-mast position on September 30 and the day of their observances.

 

Recognition during Head of the Trent

This year, Head of the Trent overlaps with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Head of the Trent Regatta is part of a North American rowing series and is scheduled the weekend before Thanksgiving. Trent Excalibur varsity athletes will be wearing orange warm up jerseys, and a moment of silence will be held on the field before the first game begins. Orange lapel pins will be available for attendees at the Peterborough Rowing Club, at the Alumni Welcome Tent on Bata Podium, and at the entrance to the Justin Chiu Stadium. The University’s flag will also be flown at half-mast.   

 

Trent Statement of Solidarity 

Canada has designated September 30 as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a day for everyone to reflect on the history between First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and settler Canadians and to further our understanding of the injustices of the last centuries. We are asked to make space for and understand the truth of Indigenous Peoples experiences. We are asked to contemplate our own individual role in changing Canada and our communities into places of dignity and respect for Indigenous Peoples.

On this day, as an educational institution, we acknowledge the legacy of residential and day schools and the devastating impact they have had on Indigenous Peoples, their cultures, communities and families. We acknowledge and honour those who survived and who have worked hard to ensure that these actions never happen again. We mourn those who lost their lives in these places.

We use this day to recommit ourselves to a different future, to educating new generations of young people as future leaders of reconciliation. We use this day to recommit ourselves to assisting in the resurgence of Indigenous cultures, languages, traditions, knowledge and thought.  We commit ourselves to building the world Chanie Wenjack was running towards. 

Resources to learn and reflect

• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports – both the Calls to Action and the testimony of residential school survivors.

• Review the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Archives and Collections.

• Read about residential schools and their profound intergenerational impact, both before 1939 and to 2000.

• Learn about the lands on which Trent is situated by viewing the Treaty Display located at the entrance of Bata Library in Peterborough and the Atrium at the Trent University Durham campus.

• Learn about Indigenous artists through the Gzowski College self-guided Anishinaabe Art Tour in Enwayaang (brochure in the College Office).

• Watch documentaries sharing stories and first-hand experiences of residential school survivors.

• Learn about Manoomin and its importance to the local First Nations.

• Review the lesson plans created by the Trent School of Education to teach about residential schools.

• Watch Waniska, an awakening of Indigenous Knowledge, and learn from Elders and residential school survivors of the importance of Indigenous Knowledge.

• Read and learn from the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

• Learn about the history of the relationship between Indigenous people and Canada.

Take action to support Indigenous communities

To support Indigenous communities and the principles of reconciliation, on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation the Trent community is encouraged to take action and engage meaningfully in reconciliation:

• Offer gratitude through a land acknowledgment.

• Become knowledgeable about the local Michi Saagiig First Nations and their protocols.

• Watch and learn from Elders the importance of building relationships with Indigenous People and the protocol of tobacco offerings as gift giving for knowledge sharing.

• Learn about the lands on which Trent is situated on.

• Support Indigenous businesses, authors and artists.

• Share calls to action with your whole family utilizing the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada’s Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

• Wear an orange shirt to show our support. Purchase yours, designed by Ojibwe artist Miskomin Manidoomin (Sabrina Fontaine) from the TCSA and TDSA offices for $30.

• Trent community is encouraged to visit and read books, and resources gathered by Trent Bata Library.