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HP OPINION TRUTH IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS OF RECONCILIATION CANADIANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH OF OUR SHARED HISTORY, WRITES STEPHANIE SCOTT STEPHANIE SCOTT Column Sept. 30 is the National ind Recon- second year, is an oppor- tunity for all Canadians to learn about the treat- ment of Indigenous Peo- ples in the residential school system and other colonial institutions — and the lasting harm that was done. Itis also an opportuni: ty to reflect o: canallplaya pasts in ‘heal. inet these harm: inada's first Nation- al bo for Truth and Rec- onciliation came not long after the Tk'emlips te Secwépemc announced that a large gravesite had been located on the grounds of the former Kamloops residential school. This announce- ment, and findings across the country, has led Set: tler Canada to engage with the history ¢ of resi- dential schools in a dif- ferent way, allowing a new conversation to take place. For too long, the hon- est truth of this shameful part of Canada's history was hidden and denied. The children were pres- sured not to tell their sto- ries. Reports of abuse, ne- glect and suffering were ignored. In fact, signifi- cant efforts to acknowl- edge this history, such as Canada's official apology and the Truth and Recon ciliation Commission, only happened because of years of persistent efforts by Survivors. Even now, there are some who still deny the fundamental truth of the residential school system it its explicit pur- pose was to destroy First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures, communities and languages. Truth is the funda- mental basis of reconcili- ation. Without acknowl- edgement of the truth, it is impossible for Survi- vors to heal and for com- munities to rebuild. The National Centre for Truth a ili their to tion belioves: that all Ca. nadians — and especially all students — need to un derstand the truth of our shared history. That's why we have worked with Survivors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community partners to create a full week of free Programming. g Truth and Rec- onciliation Week, Sept. 26 to 30, we will bring the voices of Survi- vors directly to class- rooms from coast to coast to coast and introduce young people to Indige- nous suure, language and histor Age- appropriate mate- rialfor students in grades 1 through 12 will be freely available to wate! h oft schoolor online. tent will be available for public access starting Sept. 29. On Sept. 30, Canadians can honour the Survivors and the children who nev- er came home by wearing orange, as a symbol of change. People can at- tend events in communi- ties across the country § watch momorative - broadeast & taking place from sepdeel d Anishinabek Alg quin territory in Ottawa. But reconciliation re- quires more than 0! leg ‘Kepsinu. | | erpquozyg 3 oonereM | § Reconciliatio: is the& work of generations. 8 What we can accomplish 8 in the days ahead is to lis- 8 ten to Survivors, honour their truths, and learn how we can all contribute to reconciliation in our daily lives. Stephanie Scott is exec- utive director of the Na- tional Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Truth and Reconciliation Week programming is available for everyone through the NCTR YouTube channel and website (nctr.ca). Follow the centre on Twit- ter and Instagram at @nctr_um, and Facebook at @nctr.ca. #EXPLORE INITNET SYN ANCA aA es FIREWORKS NIGHTLY AT 10PM BOOK YOUR OVERNIGHT AT NIAGARAFALLSTOURISM.COM LAB recess) SS PIZZERIA Seriously Good Pizzas. Try some at your neighbourhood pizzeria 15 King St S, Waterloo, ON 519-954-1900 | famoso.ca eo 'e[D]UOIyDOOLETEM