National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) ran from 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of residential schools with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The recent discoveries of remains and unmarked graves across Turtle Island have led to increased calls to address the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. 

Call to Action 80: "We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process". 

On June 3rd, 2021, the Canadian federal government enacted legislation which established that each year, on September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation would be observed. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

The date of the statutory holiday coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. 

As Truth and Reconciliation Day has not been declared a provincial statutory holiday, Town of Pelham facilities and services remain open on September 30th.

All Town of Pelham residents are encouraged to come together to honour the Indigenous children stolen from their families and forced to attend residential schools by wearing the colour orange on September 30th. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

Orange Shirt Day is inspired by the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a residential school survivor. At the age of 6, Phyllis went to the St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School wearing the bright orange shirt bought by her grandmother. She said she felt "bright and exciting", just like her shirt. But on the first day of school, her new shirt was forcibly taken from her, along with her dignity. This story is one of the many examples of harm that was inflicted upon the self-esteem and well-being of children who were forced to attend residential schools. Today, we acknowledge the denial of the rights and the wrongdoings of the past, and the present-day impacts across generations, including the trauma carried by survivors and their families.

Learning about the impacts that the residential school system has had on generations of Indigenous families, languages and cultures, lies at the heart of reconciliation between Indigenous peoples who attended these schools, their families and communities, and all Canadians.

Learn about this movement, the woman behind it, and her orange shirt story: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/

Town of Pelham staff will be wearing orange t-shirts in support of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The Town of Pelham recognizes the significance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, and as such will have a flag raising ceremony. Please join us on September 30th at Town Hall. 

When: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 9:00 AM

Where: Pelham Town Hall - 20 Pelham Town Square

What to expect: Members of the community are invited to attend, and those attending are encouraged to wear orange. A representative from the Niagara Regional Native Centre will be presenting during the flag raising.

The "Every Child Matters" flag will be raised during this time to celebrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures. It is inclusive of all Indigenous communities, and reiterates the importance of bringing awareness to the residential school system.

Flag Details: The flag that will be raised has been smudged with sweetgrass and sage to honour the missing and the survivors of residential schools.
Carol Louie, well known Ktunaxa artist, provided the art for the feather and ideas for the design. Robert Louie (Ktunaxa) and Denice Louie (Athabascan) completed the design work in collaboration with their summer youth worker, Gabe Kobasiuk (Cree). Robert Louie is a residential school survivor. Most of his siblings also went to residential school.
"The heart with the broken lines was used to show how the residential school affected our people, our connections, our teachings. Though fractured, the hearts of our people continue and remain strong. And in all of our hearts, at the center of our communities are the little ones, our future - represented by the child's hand. The eagle feather honours and recognizes all the children who were forced into residential school."

Join the Town of Pelham and the Lincoln Pelham Public Library to learn more about Indigenous history through the Moccasin Identifier Project! This project was created by Carolyn King in partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Greenbelt Foundation to promote public awareness of significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Turtle Island.

The moccasin stencils were designed by Phillip Cote, based on moccasins held in the private collection of the Bata Shoe Museum. The four styles of moccasins reflect the four linguistic groups in Ontario:   

• Cree – mainly located in Northern Ontario  
• Anishinaabe – throughout much of Ontario  
• Huron - Wendat to the East  
• Seneca - from New York State into Southwestern Ontario through Niagara  

When: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 1:00 PM 

Where: Meridian Community Centre - 100 Meridian Way  

Explore the self-guided StoryWalk® featuring The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad. A member of the Northern Secwepemc from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, Phyllis Webstad has inspired countless people to honor residential school survivors and their families. 

When Phyllis Webstad (née Jack) was six years old, she was sent to a residential school for the first time. On her first day, she proudly wore a bright orange shirt that her Granny had bought for her. However, upon arriving at the school, she was told she could not wear her beloved shirt, and it was taken from her, never to be returned. The Orange Shirt Story recounts Phyllis's experience and the significance of Orange Shirt Day, a vital day of remembrance for Indigenous peoples and their communities across Turtle Island.

When: Monday, September 23, 2024 to Friday, October 4, 2024 

Where: Peace Park - 20 Pelham Town Square 

Join us for an interactive drumming workshop and presentation with Josephine Lavalley, Onondaga from Six Nations! 

Josephine is a yoga teacher, qigong instructor, reiki master, & Indigenous drummer! The presentation will include a water ceremony with moon water, smudging, drumming, singing, and lots of interactive learning! 

When: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM 

Where: Meridian Community Centre (Courtyard) - 100 Meridian Way

Join us for an in-person seminar "Roots and Relations: Shared Understanding of Indigenous History to Strengthen Relationships" with Nokomis Migizinz Cindilee. 

Nokomis Migizinz Cindilee (Anishinaabe Maliseet Settle British French) is a grandmother who has been in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education as an instructor, educator and academic coach. Nokomis Cindilee is active in work as a college professor, delivering courses in Sociology and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge.

When: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM 

Where: Meridian Community Centre (Accursi Room) - 100 Meridian Way

Join us for a blanket exercise facilitation with Jodi Vander Heide-Buswa! Jodi is a Seneca Deer Clan woman traditionally from Alleghany, NY. She is an artist, speaker, educator, mom-preneur, facilitator, and founder of Niswi B - Buswa, Beadwork, Biiziigahan. 

The KARIOS Blanket Exercise is an interactive activity that takes you through the history of colonization in Canada. The exercise was created by KARIOS as a response to the 1996 report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1997 with consultation from Indigenous Elders and representatives.

When: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM 

Where: Meridian Community Centre (Accursi Room) - 100 Meridian Way

The Town of Pelham encourages residents to learn more about Indigenous communities with the following resources.

Listen:

• Indigenous Canada CBC Music Playlist

• Kuper Island CBC Listen

Learn:

• 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph

• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Education Resources

Act:

• Activities to Engage your Community on Orange Shirt Day - Facing History and Ourselves

• Resources & Ideas to Engage in Reconciliation - Orange Shirt Society

The Canadian Government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. Its primary purpose is to document the history and impacts of the Canadian Residential School System. Truth and Reconciliation reveals the long and painful history behind Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples.

For more information about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, please visit the following:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action  

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 

Learn more about residential schools in Canada through the following resources:

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline

Legacy of Hope – Residential School Survivors

Canada’s Residential Schools – Google Earth

A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support to former students.

This 24-Hour Crisis Line can be accessed at: 1-866-925-4419.

Learn about the different Indigenous organizations in Niagara and check out the programs and services they offer. You can also sign up for their newsletters and attend local events.

Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) 

Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre (FENFC) 

Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)

Niagara Chapter - Native Women (NCNW) 

Niagara Region Métis Council

Indigenous Youth Employment Training (NPAAMB) 

Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (IDHC) 

De Dwa Da Dehs Nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre is based in Hamilton, but is increasing its outreach services in Niagara

Indigenous Health Network is part of the HNHB LHIN working with health and social service providers to address the health needs and issues of local Indigenous communities

The Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre produced a docu-series highlighting Indigenous history in Niagara. 

Watch the series here: 

• Part 1: focuses on how life was before contact with settlers and the Indigenous contributions to the War of 1812
• Part 2: looks at the tragedies of the residential school system, the 60's Scoop, and the Millennial Scoop, and their impacts on Indigenous peoples and communities in the present
• Part 3: discusses racism in Canada today and how the community is healing with all the trauma they have experienced

Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Indigenous Canada is for students from faculties outside the Faculty of Native Studies with an interest in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous / non-Indigenous relationships. Learn more here. 

Find out and learn about whose traditional territory you live on by visiting https://native-land.ca/. Learn more about the original caretakers of the land you now inhabit, their history, and the current issues that affect their communities. 

Interact with this virtual map and discover the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who may live around you.