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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Each year, AHS marks Sept. 30 as a time to reflect and remember the thousands of Indigenous children who were taken from their families and sent to residential schools. We honour the survivors and families who continue to feel the impacts of residential schools, and we honour the children who never made it home.

Over the last several months, we have collectively mourned for the hundreds of bodies that have been discovered from the sites of former residential schools all over the country. I recognize that this has been a very heavy time for all Indigenous people in this country, including our Indigenous staff.

This year, Sept. 30, formerly Orange Shirt Day, was renamed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with the intention to get more Canadians to recognize that Every Child Matters.

In addition to bearing witness to the harms of residential schools, this day is also an opportunity to recognize and honour the strength of Indigenous people, families and communities, and the wisdom of Indigenous worldviews that have persevered.

Joining me to talk about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are:

  • Randal Bell, a senior advisor with the Indigenous Wellness Core
  • Sherri Di Lallo, a Manager with the Stollery Awasisak Indigenous Health Centre at the Stollery Children’s Hospital

Visit Together4Health to view recordings of events held on National Day for Truth and Recognition. You can learn more about the Indigenous Wellness Core on Insite.