Canada marks first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2021 3:17 PM Subscribe
Today marks Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, previously), a day for Canadians to acknowledge the trauma and suffering of Indigneous people because of the genocidal atrocities of Canada's residential school system. From the 1880s to the 1990s, approximately 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families, forced into church-run "schools," stripped of their culture and language, and severely abused and neglected. Cindy Blackstock, director of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society: "Approach it as you would Remembrance Day...Keep in mind that children were more likely to die in residential schools than a soldier was in the Second World War." Tonight, across the country at 8 pm local time, there will be a national broadcast on APTN and CBC Radio, TV, and Gem honouring the day. A national crisis line for Residential Institution Survivors is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-866-925-4419.
Today, many will be thinking of the hundreds of unmarked children's graves confirmed this year at former residential school sites across Canada (previously).
Geraldine Shingoose, residential school survivor, offers ways to honour the day.
Read the 94 Calls to Action by the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.
Today, many will be thinking of the hundreds of unmarked children's graves confirmed this year at former residential school sites across Canada (previously).
Geraldine Shingoose, residential school survivor, offers ways to honour the day.
Read the 94 Calls to Action by the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.
There were grumbles of not getting the day off around my clinic, and I was like, "pretty sure the reason you want the day off has nothing to do with reflecting on genocide, guys."
posted by Kitteh at 3:31 PM on September 30, 2021 [22 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 3:31 PM on September 30, 2021 [22 favorites]
And totally-not-racist Quebec skips out because of... let's see here... "productivity".
posted by dazed_one at 3:44 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by dazed_one at 3:44 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
Pretty sure Doug Ford declined to make it a provincial holiday so that his base could resent being "forced" to give these issues even a second's thought and having to work that day at the same time.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:54 PM on September 30, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:54 PM on September 30, 2021 [5 favorites]
I hope the Prime Minister finds an appropriate way to honour the occasion.
posted by Flashman at 4:29 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 4:29 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
Manitoban here. We're observing the day. We walked with Roseau River First Nation from Roseau Valley School in Dominion City to Ginew School in Roseau River First Nation Reserve and we're listening to CBC Radio's day of broadcasting on the issue. If you listen to one thing today, listen to Murray Sinclair with Rosanna Deerchild.
posted by kneecapped at 4:43 PM on September 30, 2021 [13 favorites]
posted by kneecapped at 4:43 PM on September 30, 2021 [13 favorites]
Why not make today a stat holiday and do away with stupid Thanksgiving next week?
posted by Keith Talent at 5:47 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Keith Talent at 5:47 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
My federally-regulated workplace should have been closed, but wasn’t. I wore an orange shirt to work, and was the only one.
After work, I read the first couple chapters of Jesse Wente’s book, Unreconciled. There’s a lot to process, and I’m listening.
Right now I’m settling in for the Stratford Festival’s production of The Rez Sisters. It’s streaming for free for 24 hrs, ending at seven tomorrow night. (Easily googled, you have to go through the ticket buying process and buy the stream at a cost of NIL.)
So that’s my little bit.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:56 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
After work, I read the first couple chapters of Jesse Wente’s book, Unreconciled. There’s a lot to process, and I’m listening.
Right now I’m settling in for the Stratford Festival’s production of The Rez Sisters. It’s streaming for free for 24 hrs, ending at seven tomorrow night. (Easily googled, you have to go through the ticket buying process and buy the stream at a cost of NIL.)
So that’s my little bit.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:56 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
Thank you for that info about The Rez Sisters, Capt. Renault! I didn't hear about that and now that I know, I'm going to check it out.
Because my college was closed today (as were, I believe, all K-12 and postsecondary schools in BC), yesterday we held the event where residential school survivors spoke about their experiences. I have heard many of them speak before but that doesn't ever detract from how powerful it is every time I hear them.
I'm disappointed that British Columbia didn't officially recognize today, just like lots of other provinces. I thought John Horgan would do better. Legault's answer is egregious, but I guess on brand for him considering he steadfastly refused to admit last year that systemic racism exists in Quebec even after so many deaths of Indigenous and Black people. Doug Ford's refusal is of course super on brand for him, like, obviously.
The CBC Radio programming has been really good today. I heard Roseanna Deerchild's conversation with Murray Sinclair and it was fabulous as to be expected. I'm looking forward to tonight's special program.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:16 PM on September 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
Because my college was closed today (as were, I believe, all K-12 and postsecondary schools in BC), yesterday we held the event where residential school survivors spoke about their experiences. I have heard many of them speak before but that doesn't ever detract from how powerful it is every time I hear them.
I'm disappointed that British Columbia didn't officially recognize today, just like lots of other provinces. I thought John Horgan would do better. Legault's answer is egregious, but I guess on brand for him considering he steadfastly refused to admit last year that systemic racism exists in Quebec even after so many deaths of Indigenous and Black people. Doug Ford's refusal is of course super on brand for him, like, obviously.
The CBC Radio programming has been really good today. I heard Roseanna Deerchild's conversation with Murray Sinclair and it was fabulous as to be expected. I'm looking forward to tonight's special program.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:16 PM on September 30, 2021 [2 favorites]
By the Numbers (from 2015, may be out of date) but if you need data......JFC.
posted by lalochezia at 6:19 PM on September 30, 2021
posted by lalochezia at 6:19 PM on September 30, 2021
Canada, my compliments on facing up to these past sins -- like adults. I hope my own country will someday have the same bravery.
(And Jesus, that statistic about being more likely to die in school then in WWI.....)
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
(And Jesus, that statistic about being more likely to die in school then in WWI.....)
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
Canada, my compliments on facing up to these past sins -- like adults.
It's a tiny, tiny start. Lots of Indigenous communities are still without clean drinking water, suicide rate in the North is still WAY about the national average and there's no firm action actually being taken about all these graves and dead kids.
But.... it's a start.
posted by Paladin1138 at 7:11 PM on September 30, 2021 [6 favorites]
It's a tiny, tiny start. Lots of Indigenous communities are still without clean drinking water, suicide rate in the North is still WAY about the national average and there's no firm action actually being taken about all these graves and dead kids.
But.... it's a start.
posted by Paladin1138 at 7:11 PM on September 30, 2021 [6 favorites]
I thought John Horgan would do better.
Horgan is a 1990s era federal Liberal disguised as NDP who has been a completely gormless fuckstick as leader of BC.
That out of the way I dearly hope this is the start of something, lord knows there's such a massive amount of suffering born by Indigenous people's during Canada's colonialist history that an immense amount of work must be done to address it.
I have lived in British Columbia for most of my 56 years and growing up in small logging towns here the amount of racist invective directed at Native folk was staggering. The history is stunngly racist and it's going to take a long time to move beyond that. At least there's a sense that it's finally on the table.
I would like to post, on this day, a very powerful work of art by one of my favourite contemporary artists, Rebecca Belmore. She is member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe).
Warning, it is quite disturbing but I also find it quite provocative and evocative as well.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 7:50 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
Horgan is a 1990s era federal Liberal disguised as NDP who has been a completely gormless fuckstick as leader of BC.
That out of the way I dearly hope this is the start of something, lord knows there's such a massive amount of suffering born by Indigenous people's during Canada's colonialist history that an immense amount of work must be done to address it.
I have lived in British Columbia for most of my 56 years and growing up in small logging towns here the amount of racist invective directed at Native folk was staggering. The history is stunngly racist and it's going to take a long time to move beyond that. At least there's a sense that it's finally on the table.
I would like to post, on this day, a very powerful work of art by one of my favourite contemporary artists, Rebecca Belmore. She is member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe).
Warning, it is quite disturbing but I also find it quite provocative and evocative as well.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 7:50 PM on September 30, 2021 [4 favorites]
(Deep in my rewatch of The Rez Sisters, I gotta say, if you can’t fit it in for free, it’s easily worth flipping the Festival a tenner for it. The writing is amazing, particularly how Highway captures Indigenous women’s voices. The streamed version captures all the delicacies of Nanabush’s movements which maybe isn’t seen in the live performance. Do yourself a favour and watch it.)
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:06 PM on September 30, 2021
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:06 PM on September 30, 2021
Why not make today a stat holiday and do away with stupid Thanksgiving next week?
Thanksgiving in Canada has nothing to do with First Nations people. Stupid Thanksgiving is in November.
I hope the Prime Minister finds an appropriate way to honour the occasion.
sigh...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:58 AM on October 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thanksgiving in Canada has nothing to do with First Nations people. Stupid Thanksgiving is in November.
I hope the Prime Minister finds an appropriate way to honour the occasion.
sigh...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:58 AM on October 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Canadian thanksgiving is mostly because some Brits got lost looking for the NW Passage and when they got slightly less lost they had a church service saying "thanks boss".
posted by dazed_one at 6:09 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by dazed_one at 6:09 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I think JT's disrespect was - appalling, and I voted Liberal and have a couple of vague fond memories of the Trudeau kids in the 80s.
My kids' schools did a good job, esp. the high school which provided some good education not just around residential schools but also a language lesson (both respectful language, like don't say Canada's... and teaching some proper pronunciation for tribe names and the area.) In my neighbourhood, orange shirts were pretty visible and not just on the kids - I would say about 1/3 to a half of adults I saw were sporting something clearly marking the day.
We did a minute of reflection after a bit of education at work. My boss surprised me with his care, although since he's a member of a culture that also experienced genocide it probably shouldn't have.
I reread the 94 recommendations and wrote to my MP and MPP, both of who probably already have me on a special inbox folder on these issues, but hey. I've only read the TRC report once and should read it again but this was not the week. I read an Indigenous author every third book these days (some supplied by Raven Reads if you are into that kind of thing.) I am writing a work of fiction grappling with colonial/decolonizing issues in large part because I both listened to the Commission and read the report when it came out. I mention that because I thought I was reasonably prepared for the day -- I'm also white and so the work of reconciliation comes to me via privilege -- and it still became overwhelming for me.
Both in a good way, like it was something to see all the orange shirts and flags and see a little bit more - a LITTLE BIT more - truth enter our culture through observance and narrative. But also that sense of how long it's taken and how little it is, it just felt rushing - both my own failures and our society's. And finally by about 8 pm I was whacked out with feelings around trauma...as someone who was abused in a religious context I have buttons that align with the reality of residential schools, although that's the thing, how much worse was it for those kids? How much worse is it for Indigenous people? Loads.
Like I said, I'm white and I just plain shut up yesterday; it's not about me on the feelings end. Reconciliation is on me in terms of the work. But I am sharing because my own response gave me hope that we can use this day as a point of somber reflection, like to really really sit with it, and a commitment to doing better. I hope.
posted by warriorqueen at 9:45 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
My kids' schools did a good job, esp. the high school which provided some good education not just around residential schools but also a language lesson (both respectful language, like don't say Canada's... and teaching some proper pronunciation for tribe names and the area.) In my neighbourhood, orange shirts were pretty visible and not just on the kids - I would say about 1/3 to a half of adults I saw were sporting something clearly marking the day.
We did a minute of reflection after a bit of education at work. My boss surprised me with his care, although since he's a member of a culture that also experienced genocide it probably shouldn't have.
I reread the 94 recommendations and wrote to my MP and MPP, both of who probably already have me on a special inbox folder on these issues, but hey. I've only read the TRC report once and should read it again but this was not the week. I read an Indigenous author every third book these days (some supplied by Raven Reads if you are into that kind of thing.) I am writing a work of fiction grappling with colonial/decolonizing issues in large part because I both listened to the Commission and read the report when it came out. I mention that because I thought I was reasonably prepared for the day -- I'm also white and so the work of reconciliation comes to me via privilege -- and it still became overwhelming for me.
Both in a good way, like it was something to see all the orange shirts and flags and see a little bit more - a LITTLE BIT more - truth enter our culture through observance and narrative. But also that sense of how long it's taken and how little it is, it just felt rushing - both my own failures and our society's. And finally by about 8 pm I was whacked out with feelings around trauma...as someone who was abused in a religious context I have buttons that align with the reality of residential schools, although that's the thing, how much worse was it for those kids? How much worse is it for Indigenous people? Loads.
Like I said, I'm white and I just plain shut up yesterday; it's not about me on the feelings end. Reconciliation is on me in terms of the work. But I am sharing because my own response gave me hope that we can use this day as a point of somber reflection, like to really really sit with it, and a commitment to doing better. I hope.
posted by warriorqueen at 9:45 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Thanksgiving in Canada has nothing to do with First Nations people.
I originally thought that too, but then I came across some articles talking about Indigenous ambivalence to Canadian Thanksgiving.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:18 AM on October 1, 2021
I originally thought that too, but then I came across some articles talking about Indigenous ambivalence to Canadian Thanksgiving.
Despite the positive nature of the first Thanksgiving with the colonists, relations quickly deteriorated over the next year. The colonists brought infectious diseases, which ravaged Indigenous populations. Tensions also increased when the colonists allowed their pigs to forage into Indigenous lands, eating their crops.So maybe Canadian Thanksgiving would be better replaced by a day to reflect on the effects of colonization.
Today, many Indigenous people feel "ambivalent" towards the holiday, Rice said.
"Because for a lot of people, it isn't a celebration and certainly the original people who had that first Thanksgiving, the Wampanoags and all of those other groups, the Powhatans, obviously not. Many of them don't even exist any longer."
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:18 AM on October 1, 2021
I thought John Horgan would do better.
Horgan is a 1990s era federal Liberal disguised as NDP
If there’s anything the federal Liberals are savvy about, it’s a photo op and optics. Not necessarily doing the actual right thing. So I’m surprised that Horgan didn’t take this opportunity to do the thing that looks right to his base. Obviously Legault and Doug Ford did what they thought looked good to their base, so why didn’t Horgan?
Mind you, Trudeau’s decisions on how to spend the day were not good optics, after declining the invitation by Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir. So.
We watched the one hour special and I was glad that several folks who spoke were openly critical of the Canadian government and the Catholic Church, calling them out for not doing enough and saying there couldn’t be reconciliation without truth first, and that we still aren’t there yet with everyone knowing/acknowledging the truth about colonization.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:27 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Horgan is a 1990s era federal Liberal disguised as NDP
If there’s anything the federal Liberals are savvy about, it’s a photo op and optics. Not necessarily doing the actual right thing. So I’m surprised that Horgan didn’t take this opportunity to do the thing that looks right to his base. Obviously Legault and Doug Ford did what they thought looked good to their base, so why didn’t Horgan?
Mind you, Trudeau’s decisions on how to spend the day were not good optics, after declining the invitation by Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir. So.
We watched the one hour special and I was glad that several folks who spoke were openly critical of the Canadian government and the Catholic Church, calling them out for not doing enough and saying there couldn’t be reconciliation without truth first, and that we still aren’t there yet with everyone knowing/acknowledging the truth about colonization.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:27 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
some articles talking about Indigenous ambivalence to Canadian Thanksgiving.
When the article references 1621 Puritans in Plymouth, Powhatans, and Wampanoags as the "first" Thanksgiving, maybe it's not really relevant to the Canadian experience that predates it by at least five decades.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 1:05 PM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
When the article references 1621 Puritans in Plymouth, Powhatans, and Wampanoags as the "first" Thanksgiving, maybe it's not really relevant to the Canadian experience that predates it by at least five decades.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 1:05 PM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
I assumed the article put the word "first" in quotation marks to emphasize that the one at Plymouth was really not the first--rather, that these sorts of feasts had been going on all across Turtle Island/North America for ages. I just thought it was a worthwhile read because the Indigenous professor was talking about the ambivalence some Indigenous people feel about Canadian Thanksgiving, which I didn't know about before.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:15 PM on October 1, 2021
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:15 PM on October 1, 2021
I think having a day off on this day is the wrong move. By all means let's set aside a day to remember what was done to Indigenous people and truly grasp how horrible a lot of it is. But this is not something you celebrate, and a day off for this feels wrong especially we know how those are used... look not further than to the PM for an example. I do see how Indigenous people could benefit from this being a day off to hold commemorations.
I'd more for a day to celebrate Indigenous people, something positive, something that can be festive and a day off.
Also since a lot of our holidays are stupid, it's easy to pick one and move/relabel it, this gets a lot less push back than adding another one.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 9:36 PM on October 1, 2021
I'd more for a day to celebrate Indigenous people, something positive, something that can be festive and a day off.
Also since a lot of our holidays are stupid, it's easy to pick one and move/relabel it, this gets a lot less push back than adding another one.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 9:36 PM on October 1, 2021
I think there should be a day to celebrate Indigenous cultures as well, but the establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was #80 of the calls to action. Indigenous people said what was needed, and for once, government listened. Note let's convince them to honor the other calls to action.
posted by peppermind at 3:47 AM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by peppermind at 3:47 AM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Peppermind, I was more reacting to the kerfuffle about whether it should be a holiday or not, we do Remembrance Day without it being a holiday, and it gets a lot of press and events.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 11:47 AM on October 2, 2021
posted by WaterAndPixels at 11:47 AM on October 2, 2021
I'd more for a day to celebrate Indigenous people, something positive, something that can be festive and a day off.
Here in Nova Scotia at least, October 1st is Treaty Day, a commemoration of Mi’kmaw culture and heritage, and the start of Mi'kmaw History Month. That's a bit more on the festive side.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:52 PM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
Here in Nova Scotia at least, October 1st is Treaty Day, a commemoration of Mi’kmaw culture and heritage, and the start of Mi'kmaw History Month. That's a bit more on the festive side.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 2:52 PM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by firstdaffodils at 3:21 PM on September 30, 2021 [2 favorites]