Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. As a conscious step towards reconciliation, we honour those who have been impacted by Canada’s residential school system, including Indian residential school Survivors, their families and communities. As an act of decolonization, this day formally recognizes the history and legacy of residential schools and establishes the collective opportunity for a nationwide focus on learning, reflection and healing.
CapU acknowledges the ongoing search for unmarked graves and the trauma that is relived with every finding. This day is made particularly poignant with the news last week that 158 unmarked graves were identified through the Stó:lō Nation's investigation into missing children and unmarked burials in the Fraser Valley at former residential school sites. In April of this year, field work involving ground-penetrating radar revealed 40 unmarked children's graves at the former site of St. Augustine's Residential School on the lands of the shíshálh Nation. Our hearts go out to Capilano University Elder Robert Joe, the greater Sechelt community and the families of the missing.
Paddling together
In acknowledging reconciliation as an ongoing process, CapU has been developing living documents to renew how we work with Elders and co-create an Indigenous framework. You can expect to see these documents in the coming months. The Elders Protocols will give guidance to everyone at CapU as to how to work respectfully with Elders.
CapU is committed to supporting an equitable and inclusive workplace for all the diverse members in our community. We hope you will join us acknowledging and supporting our Indigenous community members as a canoe family. By paddling together and supporting one another, each of us—with our own unique contributions—can make CapU better for all.
On September 28, Birch Building will be lit orange until Monday, October 2. We encourage CapU students and employees to wear an orange shirt during the week leading up to September 30, and to take the time to participate in the initiatives happening at the University and in your local communities.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at CapU with Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation Elder Wendy Charbonneau—Thursday, September 28
Share this time to focus on learning, reflection and healing with Elder Wendy Charbonneau as she performs her trilogy, Resisting Injustice, Genocide and Linguicide, and her other work, Echoes of Peace. Bannock and chili will be shared afterwards.
Check CapU events for event details and updates
2023 Every Child Matters (Orange) shirt available at the CapU Bookstore
You can purchase the Native Northwest's 2023 Every Child Matters (Orange) T-shirt for $24.99 from the bookstore, available in adult sizes small to 3XL. This year's T-shirt called, "Protected by our Ancestors," is designed by Simone Diamond. All proceeds are going to the Orange Shirt Society and the Native Northwest Reconciliation Fund.
Learn more
We also acknowledge the need to keep learning and doing better. We encourage all of the CapU community to take this period, to engage in the many learning opportunities available and to deepen an understanding of our shared history and our responsibilities to do better and to be better. Here are some self-guided resources available at CapU:
- Check out the library’s Indigenous resources, including reading list, movies and more.
- Capilano Students’ Union—HERE FIRST: Starting Guide for Settlers
Read more
- United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action Booklet
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice
Submitted by: Communications