In observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CAPACOA’s office will be closed on September 30. We invite our members to join us in committing to spending the day reflecting on Canada’s colonial legacy and learning from Indigenous artists, activists and knowledge-keepers.
We will be thinking about the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. We will be wearing orange to raise awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on individuals, families and communities, and because Every Child Matters.
Support is available; The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience. 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. Assistance is available through a toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 as well as through the online chat.
Below is a list of resources to inform our learning on September 30 and throughout the year:
- Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation, co-curated by Denise Bolduc, Sarain Fox, and Mervon Mehta. Free livestream from The Royal Conservatory on September 30. Dancer, storyteller, and activist Sarain Fox guides an evening that includes Juno Award nominee Nimkii; then Rebecca Cuddy sings a song cycle by composer Ian Cusson and poet Marylin Dumont (all Métis) while accompanied by the New Orford String Quartet and Philip Chiu; and Tomson Highway unveils his irreverent and freewheeling “Cree Country” band with singer Patricia Cano.
- Orange Shirt Day Photo Submission – an online awareness building activity encouraged by our friends at the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance.
- Kanata: Contemporary Indigenous Artists and their Music, curated by MusiCounts. A learning resource that will support teachers in bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives, and music into classrooms.
- First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Classical Artist Playlists are available through our friends at Orchestras Canada, on Spotify and YouTube.
- The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has educational programs and teaching resources.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report findings.
- The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has a wealth of information and services for survivors.
- Canada Council for the Arts: {Re}conciliation initiative, with information about current artistic collaboration projects.
- Reconciliation Canada resources, and numerous program offerings, including their Reconciliation Dialogue Workshop.
- The Indigenous Canada free online course from UAlberta that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.
