Truth & Reconciliation
A way to respond to discoveries of Indigenous Children buried on the grounds of Indian Residential Schools around Canada is to learn, understand and act. Below are a collection of links and resources, shared stories and histories.
Many of these resources, shared histories and stories include reference and depiction of situations and experiences that include violence, abuse and other difficult content. It is possible to access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national Indian Residential School crisis line at 1-866-925-4419. If you have a resource to contribute, please email info@comoxvalleyarts.com
The “Every Child Matters” designed by Andy Everson.
Andy Everson’s Statement on Use of Design:
I am amenable to groups and individuals using the design in a not-for-profit manner that helps increase awareness on the issue. This can include making t-shirts, patches and pins for school groups and work teams or using the design on signage to show support for Every Child Matters. What I do ask, however, is that when the design is used, a donation should be given to a non-profit Indigenous society such as: the Orange Shirt Society, The Indian Residential School Survivors Society or Copper Legacy Indigenous Empowerment Society. When businesses are having shirts printed for staff, I think it is reasonable to request that $25-30 PER shirt be given to such charities. Use of the design must go beyond simply raising awareness and should include a component of “giving back”, as well. ANY and ALL for-profit use of this design is NOT authorized.
Survivor Stories
- Indian Horse #next150 challenge – Survivor Stories
- Legacy of Hope – Where are the Children
- National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation – Dialogues
- Second Stories – “It Had To Be Done” (Short Documentary by Tessa Desnomie at National Film Board)
- wbur audio interviews
- Victoria News Residential School Stories Series
Reports and Data on Residential Schools
- Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Volume 4 READ HERE
- Where are the Children buried? Dr. Scott Hamilton Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario READ HERE
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports (https://nctr.ca/records/reports/)
- Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada READ HERE
- 150 Acts of Reconciliation for the Last 150 Days of Canada’s 150 READ HERE
- The Residential School System READ HERE
Documentaries, Articles and Investigations
- Beyond 94 – Interactive news and ongoing reporting & investigation by CBC about the action (and inaction) taken on the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- They came for the children: A Film in 5 Parts Based on the TRC Final Report on Residential Schools in Canada WATCH HERE
- APTN Documentaries: Our Stories, Our Voices aptn.ca/documentaries/
- Indigenous-made Films reelcanada.ca/indigenous-made-films/
- 12 Documentaries on Indigenous Life in Canada WATCH HERE
- Residential Schools and Indigenous Resilience READ HERE
Education & Cultural Experiences
- Indigenous Canada from University of Alberta (MOOC – Massive Open Online Courses)
- Witness Blanket
- Take a virtual trip and experience Indigenous culture START HERE
- National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation Archives
Organizations and Other Work
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society irsss.ca
- Heritage and Reconciliation Pledge (A template for organizational agreement) TAKE THE PLEDGE
- Orange Shirt Day – Phyllis’ Story
- National Student Memorial Register nctr.ca/memorial
- Write a thoughtful personal or organizational territory acknowledgement START HERE
- Steps Museums and Museum Professionals Can Take to Make a Difference
- Musicians for Change – started by the Comox Valley’s own Doug Cox
- On Canada Project oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction
- Amnesty International Activism Toolkit
Books and Papers
- Indian Horse- Richard Wagamese
- Orange Shirt Day – Phyllis Webstad
- Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chi’s Canoe – Nicola Campbell
- Seven Fallen Feathers – Tanya Talaga
- Dear Canada, These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens – Ruby Slipperjack
- In Search of April Raintree – Beatrice Mosionier
- The Train – Jodie Callaghan
- My Name is Seepeetza – Shirley Sterling
- Fatty Legs – Christy Jordan Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- I Am Not A Number – Jenny Kay Dupuis
- When We Were Alone – David A. Robertson & Julie Flett
- A Stranger At Home
- The Break – Katherena Vermette
- Porcupines and China Dolls – Robert Arthur Alexie
- The Marrow Thieves – Cherie Dimaline
- When I Was Eight – Christy Jordan Fenton
- Not My Girl – Christy Jordan Fenton
- Stolen Words – Melanie Florence
- Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad
- We Feel Good Out Here – Julie-Anne Andre & Mindy Willett
- The Land Is Our Storybook – Julie-Anne Andre & Mindy Willett
- When We Play Our Drums, They Sing! & Lucy & Lola – Richard Van Camp & Monique Gray Smith
- Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story
- As Long as the Rivers Flow – Larry Loyie
- Five Little Indians – Michelle Good
- One Story, One Song – Richard Wagamese
- The Red Files – Lisa Bird-Wilson
- The Education of Augie Merasty
- Speaking Our Truth – Monique Gray Smith
- They Called Me Number One – Bev Sellers
- I Lost My Talk – Rita Joe
- Moon of the Crusted Snow – Waub Rice
- I’m Finding My Talk – Rebecca Thomas
- 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga – David A. Robertson
- Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story – David A. Robertson
- Amik Loves School – Katherena Vermette
- I Can Make This Promise – Christine Day
- Up Ghost River – Edmund Metatawabin