Image courtesy of Anishinaabe visual artist Luke Swinson @lukeswinsonart

On September 30, Choral Canada will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by taking some time to reflect upon the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, as well as their rich cultural contributions that have enriched our nation. We recognize the need for open dialogue, meaningful action, and ongoing education to address the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous communities.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process rooted in action, both for us as individuals and as members of our communities. As we renew our commitment to amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island, we welcome you to join us on September 30, and throughout the year, to listen, learn (and unlearn), reflect, and if you are in a position of privilege, to use your positions and privileges to act.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Canadian Artists for Reconciliation and Education (C.A.R.E.) for their recent Sharing Circle with special guest Michelle Good, Cree writer and author of Five Little Indians. Michelle shared with us about her life and writings, her lived experiences and research on residential schools, history of treaties, facts of land back, and her most recent publication Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada, a collection of essays about the contemporary Indigenous experience in Canada. We encourage you to purchase these books from Indigenous owned bookstores in Canada such as Iron Dog Books, Strong Nations, and GoodMinds. We are grateful to C.A.R.E., host Kym Gouchie, and speaker Michelle Good for their generous offering of this gathering.

Thank you as well to all who joined us at the Mohawk Institute Residential School Virtual Tour and Debrief, hosted by the Woodland Cultural Centre, and to Orchestras Canada for sharing about this learning experience and inviting us to participate. In particular, we would like to thank the survivors who shared their traumatic and heartbreaking stories with us all. We encourage everyone to take the time to do this life-changing tour.

Below is a list of events, organizations, resources, and learning opportunities related to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. This list is not exhaustive and we encourage you to use it as a starting point.

If you have an Indigenous-led initiative/communication that is national in scope and you would like us to share it, please get in touch with our Communications Manager, Colin Frotten, at [email protected].

​Support is available; former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports. 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: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

Resources
 

• Woodland Cultural Centre: Upcoming Events
  https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/upcoming-events/
  Join the Woodland Cultural Centre over the next couple of months for public screenings of their film Silent No More: A Virtual Tour of the Former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, “Lunch & Learns” on Truth & Reconciliation (Canada’s Indigenous Policy, the Indian Residential Settlement Agreement, and UNDRIP), and in December a virtual presentation about the history of the Hodinohsho:ni, history of wampum belts and the treaty process, and how this affects land claims today. Costs for these events are by donation and support the education department at the Woodland Cultural Centre.
   

• The Survivors’ Secretariat
  https://survivorssecretariat.ca/
  An organization established in 2021 to organize and support efforts to uncover, document and share the truth about what happened at the Mohawk Institute during its 140+ years of operation.
   

• Truth and Reconciliation Week 2023 with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba
  https://nctr.ca/education/coming-soon-truth-and-reconciliation-week-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0fbY3r_BoJ6YtMcf8_p9z-EAHL4dGgEz21udj0vYtDwRpUC6QJxr7abb4
  Learning and commemorating the truth of our history from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledge keepers is an important part on the path of reconciliation. Interested in learning more? Watch video recordings of daily lunch and learns and access free virtual educational programs for Grades 1-12 for an immersive experience to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada.
   

• CBC News' Beyond 94
  https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94?&cta=1 
  A webpage dedicated to monitoring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
   

• APTN 2023 Programming
  https://www.aptntv.ca/ndtr/
  September 30th marks an important day for APTN as they broadcast special programs in honour of the survivors of residential, day, and boarding schools, alongside their families and the children who were never able to return home. Their informative and insightful series and documentaries will delve into the diverse culture and history of Indigenous Peoples.
   

• Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF): A Day To Listen
  September 30, 2023 | 6AM – 6PM Local Time
  https://downiewenjack.ca/a-day-to-listen/
  Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. In recognition of the NDTR on September 30, the DWF is proud to partner once again with major media outlets and radio stations throughout Canada for this special event. Guests will speak about Indigenous identity through conversations about representation in sports and entertainment, the fusion of traditional and contemporary music, land protection and the impacts of climate change, and more.
   

• Culture Days NDTR Events
  https://culturedays.ca/en/resources/truth-and-reconciliation
  Culture Days has set September 30, 2023 aside to create space exclusively for events organized to commemorate the NDTR, including those aimed at sharing First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit experiences and perspectives and uplifting the creative and cultural expressions of Indigenous people and communities. Find events happening across Turtle Island on September 30 and a list of resources to explore.
   

• National Arts Centre Indigenous Theatre: Days of Truth and Reconciliation
  https://nac-cna.ca/en/series/truth-reconciliation-verite
  A collection of virtual and in-person offerings for people of all ages to observe Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Upcoming events include great opportunities for learning and tools in the music classroom, with a focus on cross-cultural teaching artistry in the music classroom
   

• Kanata: Contemporary Indigenous Artists and their Music – MusiCounts
  https://musicounts.ca/en/programs/musicounts-learn/custom-resources/kanata-contemporary-indigenous-artists-and-their-music/
  A learning resource that supports teachers in bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives, and music into classrooms.
   

• Indigenous Canada: CBC Music Playlist
  https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-music-playlists/37-indigenous-canada
  From roots and rock to hip hop and hand drums – Canadian Indigenous music is an invite to a cultural experience across all genres. Hear: Buffy Sainte-Marie, Don Amero, Iskwe, A Tribe Called Red, Wolf Saga and more!