Indigenous leaders in Canada are calling for The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to be a day of learning, not a day off.
The day has occurred annually on Sept. 30 since 2013 (then recognized as Orange Shirt Day) and became federally recognized in 2021.
Deliah Bernard was involved in federal politics for almost eight years, three of which were spent as the former senior Indigenous Affairs Advisor to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She now continues this work through her own business, Root Strategies. She believes the day has resulted in more awareness about its importance.
“When you are on the street, or when you’re, you know, talking to a person that might not necessarily know what is going on to advance reconciliation, they will know that this day exists. And I think the the increase in awareness of the day itself, you know, maybe not necessarily in terms of what the goal is supposed to be, which is to honour survivors… allow people to come together, to grieve, allow people to come together as a community.”
NDP Member of Parliament Leah Gazan agrees the day is important for reflection and education, but also acknowledges the weight of its origins.
“I think it’s an important day as a country to reflect, to educate, but also to commit to true reconciliation, meaning, you know, this country was built off the violent dispossession of lands and the genocide of Indigenous people,” she told Now Toronto.
Gazan spent the day in Brantford to attend an opening of a museum learning space that was previously a residential school. She says the space honours her partner, a survivor of the residential school, and his four siblings who also attended.
Gazan emphasized the importance of being extra compassionate for those directly affected by residential schools.
“I think it’s important for those who have loved ones that have gone through this, or they have family connections, to make sure that they look after their heart and their family and loved ones. And for those who don’t know about residential schools, take the time to learn.”
As the granddaughter of a residential school survivor, Bernard recognizes the burden shouldered by Indigenous peoples, especially on this day and echoes Gazan’s sentiment.
Though the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is federally recognized, there is still work to be done.
Gazan also urges provinces to join Manitoba, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in recognizing Truth and Reconciliation day provincially.
Bernard is enthused by the increase in conversation and learning driven by non-Indigenous people but wants Canadians to “remember what happened” as she believes we have a collective “responsibility to make sure that nothing like that happens ever again.”
“Part of learning about history is protecting historical documents. I think that it’s really important to urge the government to protect those documents,” Gazan added.
”If this government is really serious about reconciling, if this government is truly serious about justice, then they have to demonstrate it beyond what they’re calling economic reconciliation.”
