National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
I am writing this on Treaty 6 land and the homeland of the Métis. I am settler here, whose grandparents came from the Ukraine and Europe to establish homes on what I now understand to be stolen land.
I’ll be honest. It feels a bit daunting to write a blog about September 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. I’ve been involved with Reconciliation Saskatoon since the beginning and was their Manager of Community Reconciliation from 2020 – 2024. For everything I’ve learned about Truth and Reconciliation, the legacy of Residential Schools, Indigenous history, culture, anti-racism, and white privilege; I feel that I have so much more to learn.
But I proceed for two reasons. First, I want to honour the Knowledge Keepers and Residential School Survivors whose stories have opened my eyes and my heart and put me on this path. And secondly, if anything I write can help anyone in their own work towards Truth and Reconciliation, it’s worth trying.
Photo Credit: Aspen Films
My own journey of Truth and Reconciliation started with hearing the truths of Residential School Survivors.
I was going to monthly Reconciliation Saskatoon meetings, where circles of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples came together to organize the first Rock Your Roots: Walk for Reconciliation. At these circles, I began forming relationships with Knowledge Keepers and Survivors. I was not only learning the truth, but seeing the bravery, emotional work and heartache involved in recounting their experiences.
Wearing an orange shirt on September 30, while a small gesture, became an important way to show that we are listening and that truth telling is not in vain. When the federal government took steps to establish September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, it was to honour the Survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home. It was to honour their truths.
The theme of the 2022 Wîcihitowin Engagement Conference was bearing witness, and there I learned what it means to receive the truths of Survivors. For me, being a witness does not mean carrying the burden of guilt from my ancestors, but rather taking responsibility for shaping a better, shared future for everyone. I have learned to listen. To stories. To truth. To the land. Deep listening is one of the many gifts I’ve received along this journey.
Photo Credit: Alexander Willems
But listening and hearing the truth is just the beginning.
It takes time, many iterations, and a tremendous amount of unlearning before we can move forward in a good way. I have noticed that my own reactions to hearing the truth has changed over time and continue to evolve. I have been devastated, defensive, angry, sad, hopeless, inspired, and hopeful. I have learned which of these reactions is fuel for the fires of change, and which are distractions steeped in my own white privilege. Naming and owning those reactions helps me to remove blinders to racism and inequity, and grow my toolbox for creating change.
Photo Credit: Aspen Films
Sometimes I hear non-Indigenous people speak with impatience about how they know what happened at Residential Schools. They don’t want to learn more. They want to move forward into action. They want to build relationships with Indigenous people and move into solutions.
I agree. We need change, and fast. AND a word of caution—our actions need to be informed by knowledge about racism, white privilege and the willingness to unlearn and change. I have learned that the role of an ally is not to fix things. Once upon a time, I was the textbook case of white saviourism, thinking that once I heard the truth, it was my job to fix things. But I didn’t know enough about racism and privilege to avoid replicating power imbalances that caused the problem in the first place. Those were years of many mistakes and course corrections. I’m grateful that the Indigenous teachers who showed up to guide me were patient and understanding.
Photo Credit- Alexander Willems
I’m still learning. But now, there are so many books, videos, resources and tools that can help us avoid the mistakes of generations past and evolve into a new form of leadership, where vulnerability and listening are stronger tools than power and ego.
My role is not to know all the answers. It is listening to the truth, listening to Indigenous peoples in this community, creating/making space for their leadership and wisdom to shine, and doing everything in my power to support solutions and visions for the future.
None of that can happen without the truth telling and leadership of Residential School Survivors and Knowledge Keepers. And we can’t just listen once and then try to move on. I continue to show up on this journey because I truly believe that Indigenous worldviews, teachings and values are what we all need to heal ourselves, our relationships, our land, and our work.
Yes, it’s hard to show up. The listening is heart-wrenching and takes us to dark places in our history, our country, in our hearts. Instead of shying away from those places, we need to build capacity in ourselves to listen to the hard stuff and learn how to process it. Because at the other end of truth is light. To find your next call to action, visit BeAConnectR.com
Photo Credit- Alexander Willems
Here are some ways to Honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30:
Sept 27, 6pm to 9pm- University of Saskatchewan, Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre & Nobel Plaza
Sept. 29 - 30- "Every Child Matters"--In Honour of Reconciliation STC Pow Wow 2024
Sept. 30 12pm- Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk in Saskatoon. (They don't have room for more participants, but are looking for donations)
Sept. 30 10am - 4pm- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Wanuskewin
Sept. 30- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation event on Parliament Hill, tune in here.
For those who can't attend events in person or to continue your journey beyond Sept 30, there are excellent resources available at:
Be A ConnectR, a project of Reconciliation Saskatoon
Cultural Days- see list of resources
Photo Credit: Aspen Films
Carrie Catherine
Carrie Catherine is an events producer, community builder, artist, creative director and educator with a passion for creative placemaking and building equitable spaces and communities. She has worked for Reconciliation Saskatoon in various capacities since joining the organization in 2016 and became their coordinator from 2020 - 2024. She is now the artistic producer for wâhkôhtowin theatre—a new project that seeks to create social change through the arts.