National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024

Janessa Good — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:56:06 +0000

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024 Janessa Good Thu, 08/22/2024 - 14:56

September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On this day we honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Widespread public commemoration and acknowledgement of the tragic and painful history, continued impact, and intergenerational trauma of Canada's residential school legacy is a vital component of the reconciliation process. The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and the Office of Indigenous Relations continue to amplify that truth as we build towards reconciliation. We will also highlight the beauty and resilience of indigeneity, and the strengthening of bonds with allies as we navigate this complex and meaningful day.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at ��ݮ��Ƶ 2024

In September of 2022, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ proudly committed to reconciliation, indigenization and decolonization across the entirety of our institution.

We invite and encourage you all to attend National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events at ��ݮ��Ƶ on Monday, September 30. All of the ceremonies will start and end at the B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH) Green. The entire University community is welcome to attend and observe all of the ceremonies throughout the day as their schedule allows.

Program for Monday September 30 *all times approximate

7:00 AM | Sunrise Ceremony
9:30 AM | Indigenous Gathering Space Opening and Commitment Polishing Ceremony
11:00 AM | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Remarks and Walk around Ring Road
12:30 PM | Soup and Bannock Lunch, Drumming and Dance

Resources for learning

For resources and more information, the Office of Indigenous Relations invites you to visit our National Day of Truth and Reconciliation webpage.

"Remember Me, Remember Us" - A Community Walk to Honour & Reflect

Janessa Good — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:12:24 +0000

"Remember Me, Remember Us" - A Community Walk to Honour & Reflect Janessa Good Fri, 09/17/2021 - 16:12

Event Details

On September 30th, 2021 - Healing of The Seven Generations is hosting a community walk to spread awareness of and reflect on the tragedies experienced by Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island as a result of the country’s former residential school system.

The walk will begin at 10AM from 300 Frederick St in Kitchener and take the outlined route to the destination at Victoria Park’s Clock Tower where there will be a number of guest speakers and drumming to follow.

All are welcome and encouraged to wear orange!

Truth & Reconciliation, Indian Residential Schools | Keynote with Dr. Kathy Absolon

Janessa Good — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:05:12 +0000

Truth & Reconciliation, Indian Residential Schools | Keynote with Dr. Kathy Absolon Janessa Good Fri, 09/17/2021 - 16:05

In honour of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, join the Indigenous Initiatives Office and the President's Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART) for a special keynote presentation with Dr. Kathy Absolon on Truth & Reconciliation, Indian Residential Schools.

Kathy Absolon will be speaking from a personal and passionate place about how the legacies of Indian Residential School genocide projects impacted her family, community and Nation. Blending in personal stories with truth sharing Dr. Absolon will be speaking about the history of Indian Residential Schools from a spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical place. She shares truths about colonial history. Within these stories are truths about legacies of trauma AND legacies of resilience. In light of all the children who have been unearthed: how does one respond to truth? How does one begin to reconcile truth sharing and listening? How do we move toward reconciliation? Through this keynote presentation, Dr. Absolon weaves stories of pain and hope leaving the audience in deeper contemplation of responsibilities in understanding what truth and reconciliation means individually and collectively.

About Dr. Kathy Absolon

Kathy Absolon (Minogiizhigokwe – Shining Day Woman) is Anishinaabe kwe who is a community helper, knowledge carrier, seeker, educator, researcher and writer. Kathy is a member of Flying Post First Nation Treaty 9. At the age of 60, Kathy carries truth stories about both a rich cultural history and Canada’s colonial history. Her lifetime of work in decolonial stories and Indigenous education has been informed by her land based philosophy. Currently, Kathy is a Professor in the Indigenous Field of Study, Masters of Social Work Program in the Faculty of Social Work and the Director of the Centre for Indigegogy at Wilfrid Laurier University. She spent the first 20 years of her life in the bush in Cranberry Lake. The land, she says, taught her so much about life and she continues to reflect and draw on her land based teachings.

Her passion for wellness among her peoples and the restoration of Indigenous knowledge in Creation has been one of the driving forces in her life work as an Indigenous wholistic practitioner in child welfare, Native mental heath, youth justice and community work. Her academic and cultural work has been in restoring, reclaiming, re-righting Indigenous history, knowledge, cultural worldviews and making the invisible visible. She promotes this through Indigenous research methodologies and published “Kaandossiwin, How we come to know” (2011). She has authored other works in wholistic practice, social inclusion, reconciliation, community healing and wellness and Indigenous knowledge. Her most recent project is in gathering stories of resistance and resilience from her mother, a survivor of the St. John Anglican Residential School in Chapleau, ON.

Truth, Reconciliation, and You

Janessa Good — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 19:54:04 +0000

Truth, Reconciliation, and You Janessa Good Fri, 09/17/2021 - 15:54

The goal of the Truth & Reconciliation presentation is about raising awareness of the tragic history of the residential school system. It examines the history and policies that lead to the creation of the Residential Schools, their legacies, how they have impacted Indigenous people, and why truth and reconciliation is important.

This presentation was developed by Woodland Cultural Centre's Education Department, to explore the 94 Calls to Action and what you can do as an individual or as an organization to answer the Calls to Action. It is meant to spark conversations and action by informing, education, and inspiring people to take responsibility for their own learning of Canada's historical relationship with Indigenous people. And, in doing so, come to understand one another and move forward together as a country to restore the balance between Indigenous people, non-Indigenous people, and governments in Canada.

Space is limited and registration is required. Since space is limited, please cancel your place by contacting hrei.trainings@uwaterloo.ca if you are unable to attend so that others can experience and learn from this opportunity.

Viewer discretion is advised and is not suitable for children under 14 years of age. For those of you working from home we recommend wearing headphones and viewing the tour in a private location within your home without the presence of children under the age of 14 years old.

What is the Woodland Cultural Centre?

The Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) was established in October 1972 upon the closure of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. The purpose of WCC is visionary and includes, the preservation and interpretation of the original Residential School site which historically functioned to deprive children and communities of their language, history and culture with a view towards assimilation. As a counterpoint Museum and Art Gallery building which serves to showcase the rich Hodinohso:ni/Ronathahon:ni civilizations of the Great Lakes area and the contemporary artistic practices. The WCC offers unique programming including school visits, special events, workshops, performances, permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, an active language program, a library and archive.

This Virtual event will be taking place over Zoom and a link will be sent to you closer to the virtual event day and time.

Maawanji-idiwag (They come together): Institutional Approaches to Decolonizing Curricula

Janessa Good — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 19:51:35 +0000

Maawanji-idiwag (They come together): Institutional Approaches to Decolonizing Curricula Janessa Good Fri, 09/17/2021 - 15:51

About the event

Maawanji-idiwag (They come together): Institutional Approaches to Decolonizing Curricula is a virtual discussion hosted by the President's Anti-racism Task Force, where a panel of academics and practitioners experienced in theoretical decolonization and who have taken concrete steps and actions to decolonize curricula in their respective institutions will discuss opportunities and challenges for institutional approaches and practices to decolonize curricula.

The discussion will be valuable to any campus community member interested in exploring practical examples of implementing practices, programs, and policies to decolonize curricula in educational institutions. Department chairs and faculty administrators will be particularly interested in thinking about their curricula composition and course design practices. Faculty members and instructors with teaching responsibilities may also be interested in learning from the experience of these panelists in advocating for decolonized curricula. Students will also benefit from this discussion as it impacts their learning and prompts questions and reflection on how knowledge is prioritized or left out.

Orange Shirt at W Store

Janessa Good — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 14:08:33 +0000

Orange Shirt at W Store Janessa Good Fri, 09/17/2021 - 10:08

In partnership with the Indigenous Initiatives Office, W Store is pleased to support the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 (formerly Orange Shirt Day). The U��ݮ��Ƶ community can show their support by purchasing an Indigenous-designed and -sourced Every Child Matters t-shirt.

The Orange Shirts feature a unique design from local Indigenous artist, Alanah Astehtsi Otsistohkwa (Morningstar) Jewell of Morningstar Designs. The Orange Shirt is part of the exclusive Indigenous Collection that was developed featuring Alanah’s artwork, which is a representation of the wildlife and ecosystem of the Grand River. It contains elements meaningful to the designer and symbolizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of the world we live in.

The Orange Shirts were sourced and printed by Rezonance Printing in London, Ontario. Rezonance Printing is an award-winning mentorship program that focuses on printing as a means of economic sovereignty for Indigenous artists. For information about the print shop, please visit them on Facebook at @rezonanceprinting.

W Store will be transferring $10 from every t-shirt purchased to support the Indigenous Student Success Fund on campus.

The Indigenous Student Success Fund was established to provide financial assistance to Indigenous students, who are most at risk for abandoning their education due to financial hardship. Funds received will be used to support students with:

•   Tuition and fees not covered by scholarships, financial aid or grants
•   Testing fees
•   Tools and other school supplies
•   Emergency housing and heating costs
•   Emergency childcare expenses
•   Emergency transportation
•   Other unforeseen emergency expenses barring students from degree completion

If you have any questions about this initiative, please reach out to Emilia Zakarian (emilia.zakarian@uwaterloo.ca)

Virtual Tour of Mohawk Institute

Janessa Good — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:01:56 +0000

Virtual Tour of Mohawk Institute Janessa Good Wed, 09/15/2021 - 15:01

On September 21, join us and hundreds of Canadians of all ages to learn more about the Mohawk Institute Residential School through The Woodland Cultural Centre. Since we cannot be there in person, the Cultural Centre has generously created a virtual opportunity to connect, learn and engage.

What is the Woodland Cultural Centre?

About the Tour:

The virtual tour video was created with local production company Thru the RedDoor, and it follows the guide, Lorrie Gallant, as she gives a tour of the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School. During the video Lorrie provides the history of the institution over its 140 year history. Viewers will get to see the different rooms in the school, from the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, the cafeteria, laundry room, and other rooms throughout the building, as well as hear interviews from five Survivors of the Mohawk Institute.

SURVIVOR INTERVIEWS

The Woodland Cultural Centre is very fortunate to have a number of residential school Survivors who are willing to share their stories to educate others about the legacy of residential schools in Canada.

The WCC interviewed two Survivors of the Mohawk Institute, whom you will recognize from the Virtual Tour, for a more in depth discussion about their time and experiences at the Mohawk Institute.

Survivors will also speak to how their lives, and the lives of their families, were impacted by this, showcasing the long-lasting, intergenerational consequences, and the journey of healing that they have walked. These interviews have been pre-recorded, so unfortunately the Survivors will not be available for the Q&A session.

This Virtual event will be taking place over Zoom and a link will be sent to you closer to the virtual event day and time.