Truth and Reconciliation
Truth & Reconciliation
Sept. 26-30 is Truth and Reconciliation Week. This week is recognized throughout the lands now known as Canada to further acknowledge the truths of our shared history. Specifically, First Nation, Métis and Inuit people were and continue to be impacted by institutional and structural racism. Residential School, a tool of assimilation and genocide, was a most devastating structure.
The federal government ran 140 Residential Schools for Indigenous children between 1831 and 1998. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in 2008 in response to requests for recognition and accountability for the harms caused by residential schools.
The TRC released its final report, outlining 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation addresses Call to Action 80. This includes a call for a federal statutory day of commemoration.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day Orange Shirt Day - September 30th
Sept. 30 is Orange Shirt Day that commemorates the survivors and lost children of residential schools. School communities are invited and encouraged to wear an orange shirt, make an orange shirt pin, or participate in a remembrance activity to bring further awareness to the history and legacies of the residential school system. It originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. In 1973, Phyllis arrived to her first day of school wearing a new orange shirt which ended up being taken from her. The orange shirt is now a symbol of the devastating loss that came from the residential school system.
As we mourn the children who lives were taken, remember the survivors, and acknowledge the legacy of these schools, our schools will be lowering the Canadian flag on Sept. 30. We remember the First Nations, Inuit and Métis residential school victims, survivors and lost children.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
https://nctr.ca/education/trw/
Learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on the Government of Canada website at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
EdCAN
https://www.edcan.ca/articles/truth-reconciliation-classroom/
Spirit Bear: Child Friendly Version of T&C Calls to Action
https://pacificmountain.ca/wordpress2021/wp-content/uploads/child_friendly_calls_to_action_web.pdf
FNMIEAO (First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario)
https://fnmieao.com
The Whole Truth About Residential Schools: Then and Now ~ Webinar Series
https://www.bigmarker.com/series/wholetruth21/series_summit
Take Action for Reconciliation Scholastic Education Magazine-Style Books
https://www.scholastic.ca/reconciliation-resources
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
https://downiewenjack.ca/
What does reconciliation mean? - CBC Kids News
https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/watch-what-does-reconciliation-mean/
Indigenous change-makers share a message for kids on Orange Shirt Day - CBC Kids News
https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/watch-indigenous-change-makers-share-a-message-for-kids-on-orange-shirt-day/
Truth and Reconciliation Resources for NNDSB Staff
The NNDSB Classroom Support Centre and Library Services staff have been working to provide relevant and current resources for educators. Please see below for a list of materials available t…
https://sway.office.com/XhOijtoATaONC9rq
Support for Indigenous Students
School based:
Schools have dedicated support staff such as Child Development Counsellors (CDC), social workers and/or BRISC workers.
You can request support by emailing: socialwork@nearnorthschools.ca
High schools and 7-12 students have drop in services with CDCs available. Please ask any staff member if you do not know how to access them.
Municipal:
Hands The Family Help Network: 1-800-668-8555. Provides counselling and therapy support for children, youth, and their families.
Mental Health Crisis Line for Children and Youth: 1-844-287-9072. Provides 24/7 support for children, youth, parents, and caregivers from Nipissing and Parry Sound districts.
Provincial/Federal:
- Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/
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- Call: 1-800-668-6868
- Text: 686868
- Hope for Wellness Help Line
(https://www.hopeforwellness.ca) provides immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all indigenous peoples in English, French, Cree, Ojibway or Inuktitut upon request. 1-855-242-3310. - The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) offers a 24-hour Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line with culturally specific mental health and addiction supports for adults, youth, and families in Ontario in both English and French, please call: 1-877-767-7572
- Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
https://nativechild.org - Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
https://ofifc.org/programs/health-wellness - Talk 4 Healing talk4healing.com
Helpline providing support, help and resources for Indigenous women in Ontario. - CAMH Aboriginal Service
The Aboriginal Service provides outpatient groups and individual counselling to Aboriginal people experiencing substance use and other mental health challenges. - Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program
Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program by Kids Help Phone was developed by Indigenous experts to empower First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth with skills, tools and resources to support their well-being. - The IRSRHSP has a National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) that provides immediate emotional support for former Indian Residential School students. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- CAMH has also created this comprehensive list of supports: https://www.camh.ca//-/media/files/community-resource-sheets/aboriginal-resources-pdf.pdf
