Calgary is on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut'ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and is in the Treaty 7 region of southern Alberta.
This Thursday, September 30, marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, which honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Calgary Economic Development will be closed to recognize this day as a statutory holiday.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative that is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
On September 30 at noon, the City of Calgary will join communities across the country to recognize this day in an outdoor ceremony and livestream on calgary.ca/live. Flags on City of Calgary buildings will be lowered to half-mast and several municipal buildings and structures will be illuminated in orange, including the Calgary Tower, Glenbow Museum, Arts Commons, Historic City Hall, Olympic Plaza, Reconciliation Bridge, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium and TELUS Spark Science Centre.
The Calgary Foundation has listed several other commemoratory events and learning resources available in the city, including from the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is meant to provide an opportunity to reflect and commemorate the legacy of residential schools and was proposed in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. It is a direct response to Call to Action 80 in the Commission’s final report, which outlines 94 calls to action.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is now the permanent archive for the statements, documents and other materials the Commission gathered and is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience are honoured.
Additional resources recommended by Calgary Economic Development team members to continue our learning journey together, include:
- Videos: Finding Heart by National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, A Mother’s Voice by Holly Fortier, What is Reconciliation by Pamela Palmater, Eddy Robinson, Cindy Blackstock, How Canadians can work towards reconciliation by Senator Murray Sinclair
- Books: Indigenomics – Taking a seat at the Economic Table by Carol Anne Hilton, 21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
- Calgary Public Library - Truth and Reconciliation Resources
- Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth IndigiTRAILS app
- Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada - Truth and Reconciliation
- A Day to Listen by The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
- University of Alberta Indigenous Canada certificate
- University of Calgary Territorial acknowledgement pronunciation guide
- Matriarch Movement: Shayla Oulette Stonechild shares stories of Indigenous women from Canada to Turtle Island and beyond
Links to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and to access learning resources can be found on the Canadian Heritage website.