Fairway Recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2021, will be the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s to honour the survivors and children lost to residential schools. And, not only the children but their families and communities as well. The reconciliation process is a difficult one. Publicly commemorating these tragic events, the painful history behind them, and the ongoing impacts felt by these residential schools helps to facilitate that reconciliation process.

This federal statutory holiday came through legislative amendments from Parliament. Bill C-5, which was passed on June 3, 2021, received Royal Assent. It is an Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Canada Labour Code, and the Interpretation Act.

Wearing Orange for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

What makes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation stand out is that it is on the same day as Orange Shirt Day. The latter is a grassroots commemorative day led by the Indigenous people of Canada. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who survived the Indian Residential Schools as well as those who sadly did not.

The day relates to Phyllis Webstad. Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) comes from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. On her first day of school, she came wearing an orange shirt. The shirt was subsequently taken from her. Now, the orange shirt is a symbol of the culture, freedom, and self-esteem that Indigenous people have had stolen from them throughout the generations.

On September 30, Canadians everywhere will wear orange. The hope is to raise awareness of the horrible, tragic legacy of these residential schools while also honouring those who have survived those horrific experiences.

Take the Time to Learn on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

While donating to worthy causes is certainly an honuorable action, education is just as crucial. The cultures, experiences, voices, and stories of Inuit, Metis and First Nations peoples are diverse, rich, and worth exploring.

Educate yourself on the backgrounds of these peoples. More importantly, take the time to learn about the plight that they have had to endure for generations. By spreading cultural education, it is a hope that we can prevent the horrors experienced by those lost and who have survived from happening again.

Fairway Stands With Canada’s Indigenous People

We at Fairway hope to help spread awareness and education of Indigenous people of Canada to a broader audience. Take the time on September 30 to recognize what they have been through. Also, the tragedy of what happened in residential schools, and to spread awareness of the atrocities committed.

We cannot hope to undo what has happened. But with further education and awareness, we can all work together to prevent it from happening again.