Truth and Reconciliation-2023 – Jasper Place Family Resource Centre

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation- September 30

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to remember and honor those who were affected by residential schools. This includes survivors, children who never returned home and their families and communities. This day is important for the process of reconciliation. It’s also known as Orange Shirt Day, a day that was started by Phyllis Webstad who had her shirt taken away from her on her first day at a residential school. A day meant to recognize the harm caused by residential schools and celebrate Indigenous culture while opening up dialogue about reconciliation.

In this post, you’ll learn about:

Act One- Truth
Act Two- Reconciliation
A list of books to read with children
Video- Orange Shirt Day’s founder Phyllis Webstad answers kid’s questions
How can we all participate?
How and why to be an ally to Indigenous Peoples?
Mental Health Supports
Other resources to explore!

Act One : Truth

Act Two : Reconciliation

A list of Books to read with children:

(Courtesy: https://brainninjas.ca/orange-shirt-day-every-child-matters/)

For younger students:

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Arctic Stories by Michael Kusugak
Kookum’s Red Shoes by Peter Evyindson
I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
Shi-shi-etko by Nicola Campbell
Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell
Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robinson
Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad
The Train by Jodie Callaghan
I’m Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas
Little Butterfly Girl: An Indian Residential School Story by the Anishinabek Nation

For older students:

The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad
The Secret Path by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire
Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
A Stranger at Home: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
No Time to Say Good-bye: Children’s Stories of Kuper Island Residential Schools by Sylvia Olsen
As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie
My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling
Dear Canada: These Are My Words by Ruby Slipperjack
They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellars
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story (Graphic Novel) by David Alexander Robinson
Red Wolf by Jennifer Dance
Totem by Jennifer Maruno
Good For Nothing by Michel Noel
The Red Files by Lisa Bird-Wilson (poetry)
The Boy Who Walked Backwards by Ben Sures
I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe
Ends/Begins by David Alexander Robertson
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Orange Shirt Day by Orange Shirt Day Society (published by Orca Publishers or Medicine Wheel Education)
Memory Keeper by Dawn Cheryl Hill
Dreamfast: A Trail of Stories to Lead You Home by Elixabeth Doxtater

Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad answers kids’ questions:

How can we all participate?

Wear an orange shirt
Read some of the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. https://nctr.ca/about/history-of-the-trc/trc-website/
Read books by Indigenous authors to your children
Invite your local Elders to come to talk about their experiences.
Fundraise to support a charity that supports Residential School survivors and their families.
Create awareness. Talk about it. Ask questions.
Be an ally to Indigenous Peoples

#orangeshirtday #Truth #Reconciliation #Indigenous

How and why to be an ally to Indigenous Peoples?

Mental health supports

First Nations Health Authority : https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/truth-and-reconciliation-day-message
Wellness and Cultural Supports: The FNHA is also providing cultural, emotional, and mental health counselling services. For more information, please visit Mental Health and Wellness.

Mental Health Supports offered by Government of Canada:
Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention.
Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat

Other resources to explore: