Division set to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is Thursday. This is also designated across Canada as Orange Shirt Day.
All week, schools throughout Lethbridge School Division will be engaging in awareness activities related to nature, empathy, relationships and Blackfoot language, with Orange Shirt Day landing on different days throughout the week.
Because Thursday is a non-operational day recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Wednesday is a good day to wear orange to honour the healing journey of residential school survivors and to bring awareness to the need for reconciliation.
The entire week is a time to reflect on the impacts of residential schools. It is also a week to reflect on and remember the children who did not make it home from residential school. The first step to honouring is acknowledging our past.
Given our history here in southern Alberta, it is important to find one’s access point to engage in understanding more about Indigenous Culture. We live in an amazing place where there are so many opportunities to build one’s understanding and connection to Indigenous culture. It is our responsibility to learn about the history and tragedies that were experienced by our Indigenous families.
Through building greater historical knowledge, we are opening spaces for building relationships and empathy. Pursuing land-based experiences in nature can be a first step to building cultural connection and developing a contextual understanding of the tragedies that occurred.
We know Residential Schools have left an emotional scar in history that we all wish we could change. It is a part of our history we simply can't walk away from. It is an uncomfortable truth all Canadians must face to facilitate the type of changes, however uncomfortable, required to create the absolute best version of our country. We all co-create our future and can aspire towards building a Canada that not only allows these uncomfortable truths to emerge but builds upon them to facilitate peace and harmony.
Thank you to our Indigenous Education Team, led by John Chief Calf, that is working with schools to honour this week. The work of our Indigenous Education Team is far reaching and characterized by “Best Practices” throughout the year. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to furthering culturally-relevant practices in our schools.
Orange Shirt Day
