Thursday, September 30th, 2021 has been designated as the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It marks the first time in our history when the entire nation acknowledges the horrific experiences endured by generations of Indigenous children who were forcibly enrolled in the residential school system between the 1870s and the 1990s.

During that time an estimate exceeding 150,000 children were removed against their will from their families and communities, and mandatorily attended these places where they were stripped of their languages, cultures, customs and traditions. The levels of abuse, cruelty, neglect and unspeakable acts that these children suffered are unimaginable. Yet concealing the deaths of thousands of Indigeonous children was truly the most incomprehensively sinister act ever committed by Canada’s residential schools.

Since the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at Cowessess First Nation in June of 2021, a total of more than 6,500 children who never returned home have been found. This day is not only a moment to commemorate these precious souls and to pay homage to the survivors of these schools. It is an opportunity to generate awareness of their collective pain, understand how such evils were allowed to occur, redress the harms and advance the healing process for Indigenous families and communities across Canada.

In observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Every Child Matters, I encourage each of you to wear an orange shirt to help raise awareness of the tragic legacy of the residential schools. A more proactive step that I urge you to take is to support your local Friendship Centre (which you can find by clicking here), the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund or another charity that addresses the needs of Indigenous communities.

Thank you and be well.