Every year, September 30, 2023, marks National Truth and Reconciliation Day, as well as the Orange Sweater Day. This is yet another opportunity to pay tribute to the missing children and the survivors of residential schools, to their families, and to the resilience of their communities. We encourage you to take the time, on this day and every other day, to express and demonstrate your solidarity, to acknowledge and better understand the history and the harms suffered, to explore the many educational resources available, to make donations, to commemorate, to raise awareness among your members, friends, and organizations, to participate in events, or to support Indigenous initiatives, causes, and organizations.
As part of Truth and Reconciliation Day, several activities and events will take place in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang (Montreal). Here are a few that we invite you to explore:
- Every Child Matters – Truth and Reconciliation Day 2023 – Every Child Matters | Facebook –
“3rd Annual Walk to Commemorate National Truth and Reconciliation Day. In honor of the children found in mass graves, residential school survivors, and their families, we invite all community members, organizations, and students to join us and learn from our inspiring speakers. We encourage you to wear an orange shirt and bring a drum. We will be walking along Milton, where many homeless people gather, so we encourage you to bring food, clothing, and other items (such as socks and gift cards) to give to those in need.”
- Truth and Reconciliation 2023 – The Climate Reality Project Canada – “On National Truth and Reconciliation Day, you are invited to an informative and transformative event that celebrates Indigenous stewardship of land and water. At the heart of our gathering, two revered Indigenous elders will engage in an in-depth discussion on the vital importance of fostering connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations and communities.”
- Truth and Reconciliation Week 2023 – Read ONF – “In 2023, the theme of the Truth and Reconciliation Week is ‘Honoring the Survivors.’ Let’s come together to commemorate the children who went missing from residential schools and honor the survivors and their families.”
The Transition en Commun team will not be available on Friday, September 29, so that everyone can have time to get involved and participate in the various events planned to mark this day. We invite our members and partners to do the same. Furthermore, while September 30 helps bring some of these issues to light, they are not matters for a single day, but rather part of a long-term process that requires our ongoing commitment throughout the year!
With that in mind, we also invite you to participate in the following event:
- Minashkuat: Meet the Ambassadors of the Boreal Forest Tickets, game, Oct. 5, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. | Eventbrite -“The David Suzuki Foundation’s Forest Ambassadors Program will hold its first event on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at the Montreal Botanical Garden. You are invited to participate as a professional in the fields of education or the environment to meet with them. The Forest Ambassadors Program, led by Melissa Mollen-Dupuis, provides learning and leadership opportunities for young Indigenous leaders from various communities. They will participate in a panel discussion on issues related to education, the environment, and Indigenous-non-Indigenous collaborations.”
Finally, Transition en Commun has just entered into a collaboration lasting more than a year with the organization Mikana, whose mission is to promote social change by raising awareness among various audiences about the realities and prospects of Indigenous peoples. Training programs developed by the organization will be made available to all Transition en Commun members and partners, who will be invited to register for them in due course (dates and registration details to be announced).
Photo credits: National Center for Truth and Reconciliation