National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Today!

Brockville – Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30 a federal statutory holiday.

Orange Shirt Day is 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”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

In Brockville, National Day for Truth & Reconciliation will be honoured at Hardy Park today, Monday, September 30th from 10 am until 4 pm.

All are welcome to join us as we reflect on the legacy of residential schools, the 94 calls to action and the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We will have a fire keeper, drumming, a traditional feast and several vendors.

This event is sponsored by the Brockville NDTR Committee, Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheri:yo IIPCT, True North Aid, RTOERO and the Brockville Public Library.

On Wednesday this week, St. Lawrence College Brockville will hold condolence ceremonies and as well in Kingston on October 8th and Cornwall on October 1 as part of its ongoing commitment to honouring Indigenous Ways and Reconciliation.

Wiping the Tears: From the Shadows to Reconciliation Condolence Ceremony is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Haudenosaunee people, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. This alliance of six Indigenous nations, spanning regions of Ontario, Quebec, and New York, follows the Great Law of Peace, established by the revered figures Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. SLC acknowledges and gives thanks that three of the college’s campuses are on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.

At SLC, we have created space for conversations about truth and reconciliation, recognizing that healing is essential for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. While Indigenous peoples have long been doing the healing work, it is now the responsibility of our non-Indigenous relatives to engage in their own “heart” work, by confronting the shame, guilt, and fear that can come with understanding their role in our shared history, according to Shannon Hall, Education Developer/Curriculum Consultant, Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being.

“The Haudenosaunee condolence ceremony—is an ancient tradition of mourning and healing, used to restore the minds of the people after a community leader has died—the ceremony offers the opportunity to restore balance, to take us from a state of confusion to a place of peace so we can move forward socially and politically. The sharing of this ceremony offers a vital opportunity for non-Indigenous educators to step forward and actively engage in this shared journey of healing,” Hall said. “In education, this responsibility is critical, as teaching and learning in Indigenous contexts must confront the deep impacts of colonization, trauma, and cultural loss. Non-Indigenous people must take ownership of their role in this process to truly reconcile our histories and build new, shared truths. By walking side by side, we cultivate collective responsibility and healing, ensuring that our educational spaces and beyond become powerful catalysts for reconciliation and a promising future for the next seven generations.”

On September 30, all schools in the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) will recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. All staff and students have been encouraged to wear orange shirts and will take part in activities that commemorate the tragic residential school experience, honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and reaffirm commitments to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

UCDSB schools have been provided with learning resources and classroom activities leading up to recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. On September 30, all classes will have opportunities to take part in virtual presentations with Indigenous author and speaker Monique Gray Smith. Her focus is on teaching that “Love is Medicine.”