Truth and Reconciliation Day Resources 2024
Monday, September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Known as Orange Shirt Day, it is a day to honour the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools.
Orange Shirt Day provides a chance to participate in reconciliation, listen to and learn from survivors, and advocate for meaningful change. It’s a moment for reflection and self-examination in our practices, helping us support Truth and Reconciliation and truly embody the message that #EveryChildMatters goes beyond just a hashtag.
The Child Care Options CCRR team is committed to actively listening and engaging in conversations about our commitments, responsibilities, and actions to collaboratively create meaningful change. We invite you to join us in taking the time to listen, learn, reflect, and take action.
Community Events for Truth and Reconciliation Day
- Reading Circle: 94 Calls to Action Surrey Public Library
September 26 - Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) & Skookum Surrey
September 27, 2024 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Surrey Holland Park (near the fountains) 13500 Block, Old Yale Rd, Surrey - Fort Langley National Historic Site
September 28 - Community Walk for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2024 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tsawwassen First Nation Recreation Centre - Walk for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, September 30, 2024
Location: Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza on White Rock’s East Beach
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Actions to take towards Truth and Reconciliation
- Visit Native-Land.ca to learn more about Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages.
- Read The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
- Enhance your learning of local Indigenous languages. FirstVoices.com is an internationally recognized online platform for Indigenous communities to share and promote their languages, oral cultures and linguistic histories.
- Go online or to your local library and learn about the residential school system. Monique Gray Smith has written a heartfelt book that is important reading for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of reconciliation and what it looks like in practice. Speaking our truth: A Journey of Reconciliation is available for borrowing from our Early Childhood Resource Library.
- Read the story behind Orange Shirt Day. Read Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, available in our Early Childhood Resource Library.
- Read books by Indigenous authors.
- Attend a webinar or workshop to learn more about Indigenous history and truth and reconciliation. There are many great learning opportunities available, including through Indigenous Canada, our website and others.
- Borrow Indigenous learning resources from our library. We have a beautiful selection of resources, including books, puzzles, puppets, flannel stories and resource kits.
- Create awareness by wearing something orange.
- Support Indigenous businesses, artists and restaurants.
- Attend an event happening in our community.
- Reflect on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
As we continue our journeys towards truth and reconciliation, we are pleased to share resources we have found to be helpful and that we hope will support you in this important work.
COURSES FOR EDUCATORS:
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Online lunch and learns (Some are now past but can be viewed on YouTube) - Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education Course – University of British Columbia
Cost: Free
Enhance your understanding and knowledge of practices that advance reconciliation in the places where you live, learn, and work. - Indigenous Canada Course – University of Alberta
Cost: Free
This course takes an Indigenous perspective, to explore key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective. It includes a focus on national and local Indigenous-settler relations from a historical and critical perspective.
BOOKS FOR EDUCATORS:
- Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education
- Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation
- Natural Curiosity The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry
- Heartbeat of the Earth: Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings
- Decolonizing Place in Early Childhood Education
- This Land – A Companion Resource for Early Childhood Educators
CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
- You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith
- Every Child Matters by Phyllis Webstad
- When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson
- Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell
- Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell
- Spirit Bear Books by Cindy Blackstock
WEBSITES:
- 4 Canoes
- Early Years Indigenous Cultural Safety Resource Guide
- First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
- Spirit Bear’s Guide to Truth and Reconciliation
- Orange Shirt Day
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- Assembly of First Nations
