Just last year, the bill declaring September 30th the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) received Royal Assent in Ottawa. The day honours and recognizes the legacy of residential schools, the missing and murdered children, the families and communities left behind, and the survivors of these institutions.
For non-Indigenous folks, NDTR provides an opportunity to reflect and learn about the generations of injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. Below are 17 resources compiled by YWCA Toronto that you may find useful in your learning and unlearning process about the rich history of Indigenous communities.
1. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - 231 Calls for Justice
2. Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future: Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
3. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
4. Land Acknowledgement: uncovering an oral history of Tkaronto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXySM-knRc
5. Survivor: Article by Roberta Hill published in Toronto Life Magazine https://torontolife.com/life/how-i-survived-canadas-residential-school-system/
6. Webinar: Cultural Self-Reflection – Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Training
Cultural Self-Reflection - Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Training - ECO Canada
Source: Environmental Careers Organization Canada
7. Schedule for Truth and Reconciliation Week (General Public)
Schedule for Truth and Reconciliation Week (General Public) - NCTR
Source: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
8. Paths to Reconciliation
Paths to Reconciliation (canadiangeographic.ca)
Source: Canadian Geographic
9. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Events and Programming
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Indigenous Initiatives - McGill University
Source: McGill University Indigenous Initiatives
10. Educational Playlist on Indigenous Voices and Reconciliation
Educational Playlists NFB/education - National Film Board of Canada
Source: National Film Board of Canada
11. The Soul Wounds of the Anishinabek People (Booklet) Soul20Wounds20Booklet.pdf (circlesforreconciliation.ca)
Source: Circles for Reconciliation
12. Wawahte (Documentary)
Wawahte
Source: Wawahte – Stories of Residential School Survivors
13. Aboriginal Worldviews and Education (Course)
Aboriginal Worldviews and Education | Coursera
Source: Coursera (offered by University of Toronto)
14. Indigenous Canada (Course)
University of Alberta Indigenous Canada | Coursera
Source: Coursera (offered by University of Alberta)
15. Top 5: Ways to Recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - RE/MAX Affiliates Boardwalk, Brokerage (boardwalkottawa.com)
16. YWCA Canada: Three steps to push for #NeverAgain
17. Culture Days has set September 30, 2022 aside to create space exclusively for events organized to commemorate the NDTR, including those aimed at sharing First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit experiences and perspectives celebrating the creative and cultural expressions of Indigenous people and communities.
Although one day is not enough to pay respects to Indigenous people, it is important. We encourage everyone to use NDTR as an opportunity to engage in thoughtful reflection and commit to meaningful acts of reconciliation.
The list of resources was compiled by the Executive Office of the organization.
Photo Credit: Unsplash, Tandem X Visuals