Where to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Hamilton and area
The head of the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford invites Canadians to take time on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this Friday to reflect on the dark legacy of residential schools while also exploring contemporary Indigenous culture.
The day can also be a catalyst for all Canadians to learn about the peoples who have lived here for millennia," Janis Monture of Six Nations wrote in an op-ed for the Toronto Star.
Last year, the federal government proclaimed Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The creation of the holiday was one of the calls to action in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The TRC said the holiday is meant to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."
Sept. 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, which recognizes the lasting harm of residential schools and other injustices perpetrated against Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Woodland will be closed on Friday for a private event for survivors of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. But the cultural centre is open through Thursday, and there are several events in the region where members of the public can gain a broader understanding of Indigenous history and culture.
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation will host a family fun day called Every Child Matters: Celebration of Children on Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. at 2789 Mississauga Rd.
The day will feature bouncy castles, dancing and drumming, and a candlelight vigil.
- Also on Thursday, Six Nations elected council will hold a picnic pack drive-thru giveaway at 11:30 a.m. at Oneida Business Park at 50 Generations Dr.
Picnic packs are limited to one per household and will be available until they run out.
- Staying on Six Nations, Woodland presents a movie night on Thursday at Gathering Place by the Grand at 2593 Chiefswood Rd. in Ohsweken. Starting at 6 p.m., the double feature includes the films Brother Bear" and Smoke Signals," with proceeds going to Woodland.
- To hear a panel discussion about residential schools and reconciliation, head to McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
- The Yellowhead Institute - an Indigenous-led think tank - offers a virtual discussion on Thursday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with an expert panel discussing the progress, or lack thereof, on the TRC calls to action.
- The Hamilton Regional Indian Centre will host multiple events this week, with a social on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. followed by a daylong event at Gage Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Residential school survivors and Indigenous elders are expected to speak.
On Saturday, families are welcome to a fun day at the centre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with entertainment, vendors and kids activities.
- Moviegoers are invited to wear orange shirts to The Westdale on Friday. The Hamilton theatre will present free screenings of We Were Children," which looks at residential schools, at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
At 3:45 p.m. and 8 p.m., guests can watch nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up," a film about Colten Boushie, an Indigenous man whose shooting death in rural Saskatchewan in 2016 sparked nationwide condemnation.
J.P. Antonacci's reporting on Haldimand and Norfolk is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. jpantonacci@thespec.com