Aura Carreño Rosas · CBC News · Posted: Sep 26, 2022
Friday marks the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a day honouring "the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities."
The day was one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action, which called upon the federal government to a day to also "ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."
Several organizations in and around Hamilton and Six Nations are hosting events all week to commemorate the day and come together as community:
Virtual panel featuring Alicia Elliott
The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) is hosting a "conversation on truth and reconciliation" featuring Mohawk writer Alicia Elliott as a guest speaker, discussing turning conversation and experiences into action.
Elliott will be joined at the virtual event by Hamilton-based Plains Cree Woman Jordan Carrier as a moderator, and, as panelists, Anishnaabekwe from Garden River Danielle Boissoneau and Mohawk activist Nathan Muir.
The event will be live from the HARRC's Facebook and Twitter accounts starting at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Virtual presentation at the library
The Hamilton Public Library is hosting an online event to discuss the history of residential schools in Canada.
The event is on Tuesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and will be presented in partnership with Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy and the Woodland Cultural Centre.
The presentation will aim to discuss "the history and policies that led to the creation of residential schools in Canada, their legacies and why truth and reconciliation efforts are important," according to the library's website.
Calls to Action discussion
The Yellowhead Institute is hosting an event where Indigenous leaders will reflect on the calls to action and the meaning of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
The event is online and will take place on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The panel of speakers will have Cindy Blackstock, Kisha Supernant, Sheila Cote-Meek, Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Kunuk Inutiq, Janet Smylie, and Scott Franks, discussing the "importance of the 'Legacy' Calls to Action (1-42), the injustice of their incompletion, and the barriers to their completion."
"With this event, we hope to create an open and honest space to illuminate the reality of Indigenous experience in this country, as well as reflect on the nature of the September 30 holiday, when so many of the impactful Calls to Action remain incomplete," reads the event description.
Gathering Place movie night
On Thursday, events continue at the Gathering Place with a movie night.
The Woodland Cultural Centre is hosting a double-feature starting with Disney's Brother Bear and then Smoke Signals.
The event starts at 6 p.m.
"Proceeds of the Film Series will go toward the Woodland Cultural Centre so that we can create more memorable nights like this one and continue amplifying the voices of Indigenous filmmakers," read a social media post.
McMaster Indigenous Research Institute on reconciliation
Also on Thursday, McMaster is hosting a panel discussion on Truth & Reconciliation Day.
"Members of our campus community are invited to attend the National Truth and Reconciliation Day Panel Discussion hosted by Indigenous Studies faculty at the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery," read a news release. The event starts at 6 p.m.
Director of McMaster Indigenous Research Institute Savage Bear will moderate, while Vanessa Watts, Mary Jane McCallum, and Lianne Leddy will be the panelists.
They will be discussing topics around the history of residential schools, the work of the Munsee Delaware Nation History and Language Group, reconciliation and critiques of it, and more.
Celebration of children
The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation are holding an event to celebrate the children Thursday.
Every Child Matters: Celebration of Children is a family-friendly event at 2789 Mississauga Rd., Hagersville.
The event runs from 3 to 8 p.m. and will include bouncy castles, giveaways, drumming and dancing and a candle light vigil.
An event for survivors
The Woodland Cultural Centre is also hosting a Survivors Gathering on Friday and Saturday.
The event is only for survivors and inter-generational survivors of the Mohawk Institute. It will take place at the Mohawk Village Memorial Park.
According to the Woodland Cultural Centre's website, there is also an opportunity at the event for survivors to have their story preserved in a video or audio recording for the centre's educational program.
The Woodland Cultural Centre will be open to the public Monday to Thursday this week, but closed Friday and Saturday for private events.
Three-day event with the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
The Hamilton Regional Indian Centre will be hosting a series of events starting on Thursday, Sept. 29 with a social gathering from 3 to 7 p.m.
The events continue Friday at Gage Park, where survivors, elders, knowledge keepers, vendors, performers and more will speak form 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Finally, on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., the HRIC will be hosting a Family Fun Day event, where there will be entertainment, more vendors, activities and more.
Programming at The Westdale cinema
On Friday, The Westdale will offer free admission to two films relevant to the day.
We Were Children, which explores the impact of the residential school system in Canada from the perspective of two children and nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, a film about Colten Boushie, a young Cree man who was shot and killed after entering someone's property, are the two films featured.
In a press release, executive director of The Westdale Norm Miller said "both films deal with violent subject matter, and viewer discretion is advised." He also invited the community to wear orange to honour the children that attended residential schools.
We Were Children will play at 1:30 and 6 p.m. and nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up will play at 3:45 and 8 p.m.
Rare exhibit at Beckett Fine Art gallery
On until Oct. 15, an exhibit of historic and contemporary Indigenous art will also mark Truth and Reconciliation Day.
The exhibit features work from people such as artists Arthur Shilling, Kyle Joedicke, Tom Wilson, and more.