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tahto awāsis ispihtēyihtākosiw (Every Child Matters)

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Sept. 30, 2024

By Savannah Howse-Smith, DVM, She/Her, EDI Committee Member (Originally published in Veterinary Voices Summer 2024 issue, page 36)

WARNING: This article presents information that may be traumatic to individuals affected by colonization and the legacy of residential schools in Canada. When you need help or support, please reach out to the National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 or the Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 (online chat also available)

Stories have the power to change our hearts and our minds. I would like to start this article with a story, one that is important to understanding the formation and meaning of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation: 

"Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis [Webstad’s] account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.

The date was chosen because children are back in school and teachers have time to plan, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the year. Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.”1

I have included only a part of this story from the Orange Shirt Society – I encourage you to seek out the rest of Phyllis’ Story, as told in her own words. From this grassroots organization’s efforts of commemoration came the new national statutory holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, held on September 30 since 2021. With the official recognition of the day being a mere three years old, this reflects the recent and raw nature of the day for Indigenous peoples in the country. Similarly, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) only released their reports on residential schools in Canada in 2015. It has been less than a decade that the hard truths of residential schools have been in the general Canadian public’s eye. Telling this truth is an integral first step, the importance of which cannot be understated. The process continues with reconciliation – actions that all of us as treaty people need to take to restore relations between us. The TRC defines reconciliation as, "...Reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. In order for that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.”2

People hold hands in a large circle as drummers perform on stage at an event on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Above: People hold hands in a large circle as drummers perform on stage at an event on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Everyone is responsible for reconciliation. We are all treaty people. We are each responsible for our own actions and behaviour, and how that takes us towards reconciliation. It can seem overwhelming to address large societal problems such as this. If you are uncertain how to begin, try using the frame- work provided by the TRC’s ReconciliACTION Plan:3

  • Learn the history between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples;

  • Understand the history and legacy of residential schools;

  • Explore the unique intersections we have between treaty, constitutional, Indigenous, and human rights we have in Canada;

  • Recognize the rich contributions that Indigenous peoples have made to Canada;

  • Take action to address historical injustices and present-day wrongs; and

  • Teach others.

I encourage you to make a list of what you can do in terms of reconciliation on a personal level, in a professional capacity and within your community. Here are some ideas to help you think about your own reconciliation actions:

  • Read Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future: Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (free PDF from the TRC’s website: https://nctr.ca/records/reports)
  • Read the 94 Calls to Action from the TRC – of particular interest to the veterinary community and veterinary colleges are #19, 23, 24 and 92 (also available as a free PDF from the TRC’s website: https://nctr.ca/records/reports)
  • Read a book about residential schools, such as Residential Schools, With the Words and Images of Survivors by Larry Loyie, Wayne K. Spear and Constance Brissenden or Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in Canada by Paulette Regan
  • Learn about the Indian Act, treaties and the reservation system; try to find information from Indigenous scholars
  • Look for examples of Indigenous art, literature and articles; this is important for developing cultural appreciation and celebrating Indigenous success
  • Attend an Indigenous event, such as a powwow or public healing circle; your local Indigenous friendship centre may be a good source to look for these types of events
  • Start a book club that reads books by Indigenous authors, such as The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King

As you continue on your journey of reconciliation, you will inevitably have questions and will want to seek out more information. I kindly request that you do not turn to your nearest Indigenous acquaintance, coworker or even friend – at least not as your first source of information. The burden of teaching does not fall on those who are already shouldering the weight of what you wish to learn. You must take the time and effort to educate yourself and be accountable for the part you will play in reconciliation. To quote Solomon Ratt, Associate Professor of Indigenous Languages and Residential School Survivor, "There can be no reconciliation until there is accountability; without accountability, there is no admittance to truth; without truth, “The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” is just a continuation of the classic tourist statement when viewing people on a reservation "Ooooh, aren’t they quaint?”4

To help you with your education, try these resources instead:

Kinanâskomitin, thank you for reading! I wish you well on your journey of reconciliation. Maarsii!

SOURCES:

  1. https://orangeshirtday.org
  2. Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015, p. 6
  3. https://nctr.ca/reconciliaction-plans
  4. https://creeliteracy.org/2021/10/01/every-child-matters-n-th-and-y-dialects