How to participate in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Apartment613

Friday, September 30th is the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. On the occasion of this commemoration and learning day, Apt613 will not publish any new articles tomorrow. If you would like to participate in the commemoration of this day, here is a summary of what happened in Ottawa-Gatineau.

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National Center for Truth and Reconciliation events

Remember Me: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony
Parliament hill
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m

A national youth-led initiative on Parliament Hill featuring a launch ceremony with Elder Claudette Commanda, performances and speakers including Autumn Peltier⁠ – Global Indigenous Water Activist & Chief Water Commissioner, Anishinabek Nation. An eagle feather ceremony for survivors begins at 8:30 am.

Wanderlied & Ghost Hike
Parliament Hill to the LeBreton Flats
11:30 a.m

Take a walk from Parliament Hill to LeBreton Flats Park led by children and residential home survivors. Upon arrival at the park, thousands of visitors will place indigenous children’s shoes on the stage as a symbol of remembrance for the children who never made it home.

Reminder of the children’s live broadcast
Le Breton Flats Park
1pm-2pm

The NCTR and APTN have partnered to host an hour-long memorial service in English, French, Inuktitut and Cree, which will be broadcast live from Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Park at 1:00 p.m. Tune in to hear the personal reflections of the survivors and His Honor Murray Sinclair as they share their experiences and the importance of reconciliation. The memorial service will include performances by Chubby Cree, Dennis Saddleman and many others and will provide an opportunity for everyone to mourn, heal and learn about this tragic story.

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Events at Beechwood Cemetery

Spirit Bear and children make history Screening and reconciliation tour
Register here for timeslots at 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 or 17:00

This stop-motion animated film tells the story of Spirit Bear, who hops on a train bound for Ottawa and joins forces with children and animals to end injustice against First Nations children before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

After the screening, visitors can take a 45-minute reconciliation tour of the site and learn from key historical figures involved in India’s Residential Schools and the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

History Reconciliation Walking Tour of Downtown Ottawa

Each point of interest along the route is an opportunity to learn about the role of non-Indigenous peoples and the federal government in boarding schools and the lessons we can learn from history to address contemporary injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. The tour begins at 61 Sparks St.

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Ottawa Public Library events

Branches open on September 30:
Beaverbrook, 2500 Campeau Drive
Cumberland, 1599 Tenth Line Road
Greenboro, 363 trucks Greenberg Drive
Main, 120 Metcalfe Street
Nepean Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Drive
Ruth E Dickinson, 100 Malvern Drive
St. Laurent, Côté street 515

Connect Bevan FuchsAuthor of the award-winning book genocide lovefor a presentation on the intergenerational impact of boarding schools at the Nepean Centrepointe branch (9:30am-10:30am) and at the Beaverbrook branch (1:30pm-2:30pm).

To meet Jay Odjickan author, artist and television producer from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community, who will speak about his community’s experiences and how they have shaped his career at the St-Laurent (10:30-11:30) branch and the branch Ruth E. Dickinson (2-3 p.m.).

Learn more about the bilingual Storywalk® family of books when we were alonee through David Alexander Robertson⁠—a total of seven branches were open on this day.

watch National Film Board Films related to the trauma caused by the home schooling system in all seven branches open that day.

Reflect the Youth on Reconciliation: Imagine a Canada exhibition of Legacy of Hope Foundation (Ruth E. Dickinson branch).

Take a copy home with you 94 calls to action Brochures published by the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, a curated book list, and other recommended resources to help you better understand the heritage of boarding schools across all seven branches open on the day.

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Algonquin College events

All three campuses have oneLegacy Of Hope Foundation Exhibition on the screen: escape at Ottawa;generations lost at Pembroke; andBi Giwenin Perth. Each campus will also fly the Every Child Matters flag.

Recognition ceremony and unveiling of memorial sculpture on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Ishkodewan (Ottawa Campus, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Building C)
10-11 a.m

Please join President and CEO Claude Brulé in Ishkodewan on the Ottawa campus to hear and learn about Aboriginal storytelling with community knowledge keeper and Aboriginal rights advisor Michael Desautels. Algonquin College will then unveil a memorial created by local artist Barry Ranger to commemorate the discovery of unmarked graves in former residence halls across the country.

Activities at the Mamidosewin Center
All day

The Mamidosewin Center (Ottawa campus) is open to students stopping by for supportive discussions. The Center aims to provide a place for students to feel supported, understand what reconciliation means to them, and have a meal and supportive dialogue.

9:30 am: Morning fragrance and welcome breakfast

11:30am – 1:00pm: Chili and Bannock Lunch

1-4pm: Speakers Series: The History of Colonization from Pre-Contact to Truth and Reconciliation, led by Eric Johnston and Jackie Tenute

beansfilm screening
Nawapon (Ottawa campus)
4-7:30 p.m

Watch the multi-award-winning filmbeansand hear a special talk from director Tracey Deer. Afterwards there will be space for reflection and discussion outside by the fire, moderated by the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival. This event is a joint effort by Learning and Teaching Services, Film and Media Production, the Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, and the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival.

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Other events

Gathering of Màmawi survivors
Le Breton Flats Park

On Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, hear testimonies from survivors from Ottawa, Quebec and northern Canada, participate in cultural and traditional celebrations, and honor those impacted by the boarding school system. Visit the Màmawi Together website for more information and to register to take part in the planned activities.

The Journey of the Beaded Vampire
8:30am – 10:30am
Residence Commons Conference Room 270/272/274, Carleton University

Last year, Deborah Young, a Cree social worker and Carleton University graduate student and professor whose parents are boarding school survivors, received a call from a First Nation woman in the Yukon asking that people make vamps — the beaded upper part of a moccasin — in memory of the children who never returned from boarding schools. This inspired Young to organize a vamp gathering in Ottawa in late June 2021. She sent the call, asking her Carleton colleagues for help spreading the word among Indigenous students.

The collective appeal brought 356 vampires with images of the sun shining on graves, numbers representing lost lives or other memorials to family members, friends and even strangers. Young worked with Cree/Mohawk artist Michelle Thompson to place the vamps in a series of three frames intended to depict the journey of indigenous children through boarding schools. A personal unveiling ceremony will be held in Carleton on September 30th.

Kimberly Murray, independent special contact for missing children and unmarked graves and burial sites associated with Indian boarding schools, will speak at the unveiling on the role of universities in promoting reconciliation.

Native Women’s Association of Canada events
10 a.m. – 4 p.m
120 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau

The Native Women’s Association of Canada invites you to help us honor and remember the children and families left behind, as well as boarding school survivors. Please visit our office to view our memorial art exhibition honoring our children, families and survivors, as well as our extensive collection of Indigenous art. Watch a film about boarding schools in our Mother Earth room; participate in a craft activity in memory of our children; participate in a traditional patch, drumming and singing; share refreshments with us; and take part in a storytelling event from 1pm to 3pm.