September 30th marks National Truth and Reconciliation Day. A day where we pause, reflect and support people who have been affected by the residential school system. It is a day devoted to taking time and learning about the history and ongoing impacts from our history by recognizing Indigenous residential school survivors – and to honour the Indigenous children who did not make it home, along with their families.
We encourage all of you to wear orange on this day to recognize and remember those children, whose culture and loved ones were taken away in acts of genocide.
Here at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies, we acknowledge the generational impacts of colonial violence and the systemic failures that continue to happen. We stand in solidarity with all First Nations and Indigenous communities who are still healing and grieving. We understand that reconciliation is truly never enough. We grieve alongside our communities for the children found, and many more not yet discovered.
As settlers, it’s important for all Canadians to understand the magnitude of the truth of this experience. We will continue to do the work of supporting Indigenous communities and are committed to the work of advancing truth and reconciliation.
While we’re working to deepen our understanding of Indigenous histories and ongoing contemporary injustices we have compiled a list of resources to share with our community.