Yesterday was National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Of course, I have posted about it on or after September 30 for the past few years.
In case you forget:
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.It's not much, but I did wear orange in honour and solidarity.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
It's a thoughtful way to commemorate a terrible time in history. I wish we had a Truth and Reconciliation Day, too.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing from indigenous people online who would like the culprits still living to face justice, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that there must be such a day. But good to remember and acknowledge the wrongs of the past.
ReplyDeleteSadly we cannot undo the past but acknowledge that it was wrong and not repeat it in the future.
ReplyDeleteI am sort of convinced that nothing is going to make it up to the children and fix the broken society that the 'schools' have enabled. It is not entirely the fault of the schools, though. There has been a systematic push to envelop our First Nations. Still with us. Orange shirt, but wet with tears and sweat.
ReplyDeleteI like the tradition of the orange shirt. I wish we had that here. But many in the US don't want to acknowledge that we've ever done anything wrong. :(
ReplyDeleteWhat Margaret said. My belief is, if we cannot acknowledge the wrongs committed in the past, we cannot evolve....we stay stuck.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear again about this commemoration of the traumatic effects that will be passed on to generations of children. I guess the closest we get in the US is to have Indigenous People's Day on Oct. 12 instead of Columbus Day. Oh wait, this year it's on Mon. Oct. 14 so some government and bank workers will get the day off. So glad to be back and reading your blog, though it's a bit late in the day for me!
ReplyDeleteOrange colour can be a good changing one;s mindset. It looks good on you.
ReplyDeleteHere in the US, truth seems to have fallen out of favor.
ReplyDeleteGood on you to wear the orange shirt. Many of the old bush pilots had stories of what happened and how they picked up kids. It was terrible.
ReplyDeleteVery worthwhile and good character!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about National Truth and Reconciliation Day, it is a good and sad reminder.
ReplyDeleteOrange Shirt Day is sad yet hopeful!
ReplyDeleteNice thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI wore orange. I didn't go anywhere, but I did wear it!!!
ReplyDeleteWe wore orange too!
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