Staff Reporter: Rodyn Rostam

On Thursday, Sept. 30, Canadians will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for the first time in history.

Held around the time when Indigenous children were taken from their homes to residential schools, the day will be observed to honor the victims and survivors of the schools, as well as to reflect on how their legacy has affected Indigenous communities.

  The day has been created to give everyone an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools, with more than 150,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit children were forced to attend between the 1870s – 1997.  

“One of the simplest ways to show some support for Indigenous people on Sept. 30 is to wear orange”, Darlene Bernard commented.

Three First Nations women say Canadians should take time on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 to reflect on their history and participate in events.

Schools across the country will close, and many people will get the day off work with pay — but not everyone.

Truth and Reconciliation Day is a federal holiday where postal workers, federal government staffers, and bank employees get the day off.

The federal government implemented Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is a direct response to one of the commission’s calls to action.

The day is a statutory holiday for all federal employees and federally regulated workplaces.

“This year, 2021, is a year of truth for us survivors,” Gramma Shingoose said in an interview.

Some schools, businesses, and different levels of government across the country are also choosing to observe the day, which is also known as Orange Shirt Day

The move came shortly after the remains of about 215 children were discovered in late May by the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation, on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Last month, the B.C. government formally recognized Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in the province and announced the closure of schools, post-secondary institutions, and some health sector workplaces.

Manitoba is one of only three provinces in Canada formally recognizing September 30 as a holiday.

Schools will close, and provincially employed workers will have the day off work. Flags on government buildings will also be lowered.

Even Nova Scotia officially recognizes September 30 as a holiday.

Schools, childcare centers, and government offices will be closed. However, Businesses can choose to stay open

Other provinces, including New Brunswick, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario have decided that they will not make Sept. 30 a provincial statutory holiday, but will observe it in other ways, which drew strong criticism from Indigenous communities.

As Canada prepares to recognize the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Thursday, Shingoose, says the desire to hear from survivors has soared across the country. Bernard said Sept. 30 is also a good time to support the work of Indigenous artisans and their traditional craft, such as quilling on birch bark and basket weaving. And it is a good time to reflect on the past of indigenous peoples even if you are not Indigenous yourself.

Questions:

Daniel:

  1. Do you think it is a good idea to make September 30 a holiday for Truth and Reconciliation?

Agrees with the holiday so we can understand what the residential school students went through.

  • Do you think every student should be taught about Residential Schools?

Yes, so it can be prevented from happening again in the future.

  • Do you think Residential schools have Bad education?

       Doubts they taught kids that well.

  • Do you think every province should make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a provincial holiday?

Yes, because he says everyone should support the Holiday.

  • Do you think The National truth and Reconciliation day should have been done earlier?

It should have been done earlier because it would be necessary to acknowledge it officially.

  • What age do you think kids should learn about Residential schools?

Starting from Grade 6, because he thinks kids are mature enough to learn about this.

Questions:

Fin:

  1. Do you think it is a good idea to make September 30 a holiday for Truth and Reconciliation? Yes, because people should educate themselves and participate in events.
  • Do you think every student should be taught about Residential Schools?

Yes, absolutely because if we don’t educate people about the past people would forget the past.

  • Do you think Residential schools had Bad education?

The concept was to take the Indian out of the child.

  • Do you think every province should make the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a provincial holiday?

I think it’s more than a provincial matter, so it should be a federal holiday.

  • Do you think The National truth and Reconciliation day should have been done earlier?

Yes, because the issues of residential schools have been around for 20 years, and the fact that it took this long to acknowledge the atrocities is awful.

  • What age do you think kids should learn about Residential schools?

Kindergarten and up, thinks there should be a lighter version for kids, or at the bar minimum for younger children, for education on indigenous culture.

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Conclusion: ‘’It is important to remember what the children, and survivors of residential schools went through, so that nothing like this ever happens again’’.