Please join us as we gather to remember, honour and respect every child who didn't come home, every residential school survivor, and their families and communities.
We will walk together from the Quad to the Malaspina Theatre, where learning will take place. We will then gather for soup, bannock and orange heart cookies.
This event has natural breaks between sessions so please feel free to come for as much time as your schedule allows.
9 am
Gather in the Quad outside the Campus Store and participate in a vigil walk in recognition of residential school Survivors and those who never came home. Walk to the theatre where the official commemoration will continue. We will hear from VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Saucier, VIU Elders and VIU students.
A short break
10 am
The education portion of the event begins with a session on trauma-informed approaches in reconciliation which will be led by Elodie Button, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist and Lillian Morton, Director, Indigenous Education and Engagement. This will take place in two components with a short break in the middle.
There will be opportunities for self-directed learning in the Malaspina Theatre Lobby,as well as smudging and a commitments board where people can share their commitments to Truth and Reconciliation for the next year.
11:45 am
A light lunch of soup, bannock and orange heart cookies provided by the Professional Baking students will be served. This will provide an opportunity for people to reflect on what they have experienced throughout the day.
Please note the theatre capacity is 294 and food is limited to about that many people as well. Times are approximate and speakers are subject to change without notice.
Information from the Government of Canada:
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
