September 30th – A Day of Learning

Team photo - Day of Learning

Earlier this year, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make September 30 a federal holiday. It is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Federal public employees have the day off work to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools in Canada. Furthermore, it is a learning opportunity.

Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

At Learning Bird, we are committed to Truth and Reconciliation. We support all Canadians having a day of reflection. It is important to honour the children lost to the residential school system. Canadians must reflect on the ongoing intergenerational impact of residential schooling on Indigenous families and communities. 

Annual Day of Learning

However, we believe true reconciliation can only come after truth. To get to a place of truth, we all have to do a lot of learning and unlearning. That is why we have decided as a team to make September 30 an annual day of learning at Learning Bird. 

Each year, we will set aside September 30 for team members to further their knowledge about truth and reconciliation topics. Every team member is in a different place on their learning journey. We are not prescribing activities or tasks for our staff to participate in. Team members can read, take a course, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries. They can play a game, attend an in-person or virtual event, or participate in community ceremonies. The goal is to provide them with time to explore, learn, connect, and reflect. 

Our Plans for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

We all have different plans for the day. I plan to listen to a few episodes of Still Here, Still Healing. It’s a podcast hosted by Learning Bird Alumni Jade Roberts and jump ahead a few weeks in my Indigenous Canada Course from the University of Alberta. 

Here’s what other team members are looking forward to learning or doing on September 30. 

Virtual Truth and Reconciliation Week Events

“I plan to attend and bring my students to some of the virtual Truth and Reconciliation Week events hosted by the National Centre of Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). I am looking forward to the event Beyond Orange Shirt Day. I hope the community will be able to gather to mark the day safely.” – Hannah Arseneau-Daniels, Instructional Designer at Learning Bird and part-time educator at Mezi Community School in Wha Ti, NWT

Indigenous Canada Course

“I will continue taking the Indigenous Canada Course from the University of Alberta. I am over halfway through the 12-week course, and it has been very enlightening to learn more about Canadian history from an Indigenous worldview.” – Henry Ryan, Chief Executive Officer

Aboriginal Worldviews and Education Course

“My plan for September 30 is to revisit a course I took in my post-grad from my favourite professor and friend, Jean-Paul Restoule. The course is Aboriginal Worldviews and Education at the University of Toronto, now offered as a free course via Coursera. I also plan to rent We Were Children from the NFB, a film directed by Tim Wolochatiuk.” – Ashley Hamilton, Education Specialist

Pîkiskwêtân Indigenous Directions Learning Series

“I’m planning to dive into the Companion Resource Guides for a new learning series Concordia University has introduced called the Pîkiskwêtân Indigenous Directions Learning Series. These guides link to books, articles, and University resources that contain a lot of information.” – Rebecca Smith, Education Projects Coordinator

Sharing Our Learning

We’ve shared a list of events, activities, recommended media, and learning opportunities with the team. We have encouraged everyone to add to this list as they discover new and interesting resources. 

Our team is looking forward to their day of exploration and learning. We are excited to share our knowledge through group discussions and lunch and learn sessions throughout the year. 

How will you be spending your day on September 30? Drop us an email to let us know. 

Truth and Reconciliation Week: Learning Through Action

Residential School Memorial Ottawa

For some, truth and reconciliation means acknowledging and learning about the past. For others, the focus lies in honouring treaties. Reconciliation is complex, from letting go of stereotypes to reclaiming language and culture. It is a process. One that takes humility. One that requires action. Ultimately, reconciliation is the responsibility of all Canadians.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission defines reconciliation as “establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. In order for that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.”

Truth and Reconciliation Week

This year, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is offering Truth and Reconciliation Week, a 5-day virtual program to engage participants in conversations about reconciliation, including treaties, land claims, and the residential school system. Between September 27 and October 1, educators and learners in grades 5–12 can join the conversation. Artistic and cultural performances by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists are available to learners. Additionally, discussions with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and residential school Survivors will guide the week. 

Supporting Reconciliation through Education

Recent discoveries of unmarked mass graves bring truths about the Missing Children to light. Many parents, educators, and community leaders are asking the difficult, necessary questions:

What can we do to support our young people in their journey towards reconciliation?

How can we honour the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action in a meaningful way?

How can we educate ourselves to feel adequately prepared to engage young people in the process of reconciliation?

For many, this is a daunting task of self-reflection and personal education. It is important to remember, however, that reconciliation is not linear. “Somewhere between action and reaction there is an interaction, and that’s where all the magic […] lies.” Robin Wall Kimmerer, an Indigenous author and scientist, summarizes this interaction by stating, “Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal. It is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us” (2015, p. 404). 

Sharing the Wisdom of Elders and Knowledge Keepers

Here at Learning Bird, we have had the privilege of collaborating with over 55 schools in 52 communities across the area known as Canada. With the wisdom shared by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, these partnerships have created educational materials to inspire young people from coast to coast to coast. Below are a variety of resources to begin the journey to reconciliation and learning through action. You may wish to use these resources to support your own learning or teach in your classroom.

Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices

Reconciliation often comes with the resurgence of trauma. As we approach these topics with young people, inter-generational wounds can manifest in various ways. Creating a space where learners can learn about the topic, themselves, and their emotions can make a difference in how youth move forward through their journey of reconciliation. You may wish to learn more about trauma-informed practice and create a toolkit of strategies to support the young people in your care.  

As you engage and take action during Truth and Reconciliation Week, consider asking yourself:

What does reconciliation mean to me?

Interested in knowing more about how to address Truth and Reconciliation in your classroom? Here are 5 Ways to Address Truth and Reconciliation Week in your Classroom!

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