For Indigenous Canadian content creators Sarain Fox and Rashelle Campbell, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day is more than a moment of reflection; it’s a living practice of honouring survivors, reclaiming traditions, and shaping stories for the next generation.
Fox, an Anishinaabe storyteller, filmmaker, and activist, begins the day by greeting the sunrise and connecting with her auntie Mary, a residential school survivor.
Campbell, a Nehiyaw Iskwew multidisciplinary designer based in Edmonton, finds meaning in slowing down, embracing imperfection, and creating joyful, nostalgic creative pieces that carry different stories forward.
Both women approach their work — and this day — as acts of remembrance, resistance, and reclamation, reminding Canadians that truth and reconciliation is not a single date on the calendar, but a practice woven into everyday life.
SARAIN FOX: UPLIFTING SURVIVORS AND THEIR STORIES
For Sarain Fox, Sept. 30 always begins with a ceremony. Some years she has joined sunrise gatherings by the waters near Oro-Medonte; this year, she says, she’ll once again start with the sun before phoning her auntie Mary.
Her auntie, a survivor of the Spanish residential school in Ontario, has long been at the heart of how Fox honours the day. She recalls standing with her auntie and her mother on Parliament Hill the first year Sept. 30 was recognized nationally in 2021. The day also coincides with Orange Shirt Day which recognizes the victims of residential schools, honours the survivors and raises awareness about the impacts of the school system.
Now, as a mother herself, Fox says the day has a deeper meaning. Being with her children, speaking their language, and passing down traditions is its own act of reclamation, she says.
But while the day carries weight for Indigenous families, Fox believes its larger purpose is to educate all Canadians.
“We live these stories every day,” she told Now Toronto on Monday. “This day is meant for others in this country to acknowledge Indigenous people.”
She hopes the future of Sept. 30 allows Indigenous people to rest and participate, rather than always being asked to lead.
Storytelling remains the focus of Fox’s work, whether through acclaimed films like Inendi, or her collaborations in fashion and branding. Recording her auntie’s testimony during the pandemic and sharing it with the world, she says, was among the most profound experiences of her life. A recent church screening of Inendi affirmed that storytelling can change hearts and minds.
“That’s how we build more meaningful relationships between communities,” Fox said.
RASHELLE CAMPBELL: DESIGNING WITH MEMORY AND PLAY
While Fox speaks through film and activism, Rashelle Campbell channels her stories into design. As the founder of For Your Homey, a small-batch rug collection, and co-owner of Small Town Boys, an accessory brand launched with her best friend, Campbell leans into nostalgia and play.
“My work is bits and pieces of me—something I would have wanted in my early 2000s bedroom, but as an adult,” she told Now Toronto. Colours, curves, and shapes carry traces of memory, transforming into objects that feel both familiar and new.
Campbell embraces imperfection as part of her process.
“For me, embracing imperfection and working slowly is about honouring process over product,” she said. In her view, imperfection is not a flaw but a reminder of humanity. It resists mass production and trend cycles, centering instead the Indigenous values of reciprocity, care, and respect for materials.
Joy and humour are equally important. “Our stories aren’t only about survival or trauma—they’re also about laughter, creativity, and individuality,” she said. By weaving joy into her work, Campbell pushes against narrow expectations of what Indigenous art and design must look like.
For Sept. 30, she plans to unplug and spend the day doing what she loves.
“Indigenous people are not the ones that should be reconciling or educating,” she said.
“The traditions of honouring land, people, and ancestors isn’t just a holiday for me—they’re my everyday.”
BEYOND SEPT. 30
Though their mediums differ, Fox and Campbell share a common vision: to use creativity as a tool for survival, resistance, and joy.
Fox is currently working with her auntie Mary and her mother on a children’s book, alongside developing a new podcast. Campbell continues to build her brands around intentionality and play, ensuring each piece holds memory and meaning.
Both women remind us that Truth and Reconciliation Day is not just about a single day of recognition. It is about honouring survivors, carrying forward family stories, and carving space for Indigenous futures.
