National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is on Sept. 30. This day examines the legacy of residential schools, missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions.
While being officially recognized by the Canadian government in 2021, Sept. 30 was originally known as Orange Shirt Day. First observed in 2013, Orange Shirt Day was created as part of an effort to promote awareness and education of the impact of colonialism on Indigenous cultures and communities.
In honour of this important day, we’ve put together a list of books we recommend you read, celebrating Indigenous culture and helping pave the road to reconciliation. From 2000 to 2011, seven Indigenous high school students died in Thunder Bay, Ont. They lived hundreds of kilometres away from their families, forced to leave home because there was no adequate schooling on the reserve.
Award-winning journalist Tanya Talaga delves into the history of this northern city that has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations in Indigenous communities. Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention. With compassion and insight, “Five Little Indians” chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and, ultimately, find a way forward.
Helen .
