UPEI to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also referred to as Orange Shirt Day, is a day 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.” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada).
The Day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
While UPEI will be closed on September 30 as it is a statutory holiday, we will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) with some focused events and observances on campus throughout the week of September 29–October 3. UPEI will lower the flags to half-mast on September 30. The UPEI Bookstore is also once again selling orange t-shirts, sourced locally from Indigenous PEI in Charlottetown in support of NDTR.
On Thursday, October 2, at 11:30 am, the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) will host a Lunch and Learn, “Reflecting on Reconciliation—A Zine Workshop.” The zine-making activity will focus on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and allow participants to reflect on their role. Kristy McKinney, an instructional Multimedia Specialist in the TLC, will explain how to fold an eight-page zine and discuss the relevance of zines in and out of the classroom. Angie Petty, an Instructional Designer in the TLC, will speak on zines and reflection practices within Higher Education. Neil Forbes, an IKERAS Faculty member, will provide reflection prompts to help each of us engage with reconciliation through zine-making. All faculty and staff are welcome to this creative session where they can come late and leave early. The workshop will be held in Robertson Library Annex 230.
On Friday, October 3, UPEI will host the TRC Mawi’omi in the Quadrangle between Kelley Memorial Building and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, from 10:00 am–2:00 pm. Everyone is invited to participate for a day of reflection, learning, and community as we mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Reports along with 94 Calls to Action, which guide Canada’s path toward reconciliation. To commemorate the 10th anniversary and honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the TRC Mawi’omi (the word for gathering in the Mi’kmaw language) will include several activities with the aim of increasing awareness, fostering community relationships, and ensuring that the narratives of Indigenous peoples are honoured and understood. All are welcome!
In the broader PEI community, there will be an official ceremony of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, September 30, at 11:30 am in front of the Shaw Building located at 95 Rochford Street in Charlottetown. During this time, the flags at the provincial building will be lowered as a mark of respect and a moment of silence will be observed at 12 noon.
On October 1, Lennox Island First Nation and Abegweit First Nation will host a Treaty Day Mawi’omi at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, which will include traditional dancing, drumming, and singing, and Mi’kmaw artisans and vendors. This free event is led by the First Nations, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and Indigenous PEI. All are welcome!
Other relevant links to educate and promote awareness:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Please note: The National Residential School Crisis Line offers emotional support and crisis referral services for residential school Survivors and their families. The toll-free crisis line number is 1-866-925-4419. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
