truth and reconciliation — september 30

 truth and reconciliation — september 30

truth and reconciliation — september 30

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

I don't think reconciliation is something we can accomplish by wearing orange for one day.

It means learning the truth.

Listening to Survivors, Elders and Indigenous communities.

Remembering the children and families whose lives were changed by the residential school system.

And then asking the uncomfortable question:

What are we actually doing differently?

Truth has to come before reconciliation.

And reconciliation has to mean more than words.

Today, Vancouver has opportunities to gather, walk, listen, learn, reflect and remember.

🧡 Some events happening today:

• Orange Shirt Day Walk for Truth and Reconciliation — Strathcona Community Centre to Grandview Park, 9:30–11:30 a.m.

• Truth and Reconciliation Day at Grandview Park — 12–3 p.m.

• National Truth & Reconciliation Day Honour Walk — Vancouver Aboriginal Community-Policing Centre to Grandview Park, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

• Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day at UBC — 11:45 a.m.–3 p.m.

• Truth & Reconciliation Day at MONOVA — Museum of North Vancouver, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

• Films for Truth and Reconciliation and other cultural and educational events are happening throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

UBC is also hosting a Sacred Fire Ceremony at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm from sunrise to sunset, and Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? at the Frederic Wood Theatre at 4 p.m.

There are many ways to participate.

You don't need an orange shirt to care.

You don't need to have all the answers.

But we do need to keep asking questions.

We need to keep learning.

We need to listen.

And we need to remember that reconciliation isn't something Indigenous people have to do for Canada.

Canada has work to do.

Today. Tomorrow. And every day after September 30.

🧡 Every Child Matters.

#NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters #TruthBeforeReconciliation #Reconciliation #IndigenousVoices #Vancouver #September30