School children on Haida Gwaii in British Columbia’s Pacific Northwest Coast design their own Orange-T-shirts
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215 children. Buried in unmarked graves. Their remains hidden in the grounds surrounding the Kamploops Indian Residential School in British Columbia and found by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation Peoples. The finding is horrific. But it’s not news to Indigenous people forced to attend Canada’s residential schools (see the Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation’s (2015) Report). Witnessing this tragic truth is a reminder to all non-Indigenous people, including settlers and new commers across Canada, to strengthen their commitments toward reconciliation. Here are some possible actions toward reconciliation (Cynthia’s suggestions). These might be helpful to share with families, friends, and colleagues.
- Watch this video by Cree, Lakota and Scottish author Monique Grey Smith on how to talk with kids about Residential Schools.
- Read 21 Things you May not Know about the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, a member of the Gwawa’enuxw Nation, and founder of Indigenous Corporate Training.
- Read another book by Bob Joseph Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips, and Suggestions to make Reconciliation a Reality by Bob Joseph, a member of the Gwawa’enuxw Nation, and founder of Indigenous Corporate Training.
- Visit Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) website and read/study/act upon the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action.
- Read Indigenous authors. Iron Dog Books, an Indigenous owned and Independent book store in Vancouver, has an excellent selection of Indigenous authored books.
Here are some examples you can find at Iron Dog Books:
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Embers by Richard Wagamese
- One Drum by Richard Wagamese
- Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
- Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
- Gather by Richard van Camp
- Angel Wing Splash Pattern by Richard van Camp
- Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
- Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson
- Return of the Trickster by Eden Robinson
- Indigenous Writes: A guide to First Nations, Metis and Inuit issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel
- The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King
- The Truth about Stories by Thomas King
- All our Relations by Tanya Talaga
- Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice
- Raven Brings the Light by Roy Henry Vickers
- Cloudwalker by Roy Henry Vickers
- Peace Dancer by Roy Henry Vickers
- Stand like a Cedar by Nicola Campbell
- Walking the Clouds by Grace Dillon
- Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
- Indigenous Storywork by Jo-ann Archibald Q’um Q’um Xiiem