Reconciliation Through Education: a Toolkit

Resources for the first National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) on September 30, 2021

Content note: The following post discusses residential ‘schools’. The National Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419 is for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her Residential school experience, and is also for families of those who were residential school students who are experiencing this as well.

As we approach Orange Shirty Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, The Howard PS parent/caregiver Equity Committee volunteers have compiled a (non-comprehensive!) list of community events and resources for families who wish to continue learning about the legacy of residential ‘schools’. Links below include videos, workshops, virtual tours, and a long list of titles available at the local library and for purchase through our partner, Another Story Bookshop.

Community Events

Woodland Cultural Centre is holding virtual events, with tours, workshops and presentations for children 5 years old and up all week long.

September 30, 3pm onward, Dufferin Grove Park, 1492 Land Back Lane presents UnityTO Concert and fundraiser. Local public schools, including Perth Ave PS, and Pauline Jr PS, will also participate in an Orange Shirt Day march in solidarity to Dufferin Grove to support this initiative. (poster/PDF attached)

September 30, 5:30pm, Reconciliation Roncesvalles is hosting a guided neighbourhood walk to visit two murals created by Indigenous artists and a tour of the Dundas Roncesvalles Peace Garden.

Resources

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Final Report
Read the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society’s Spirit Bear Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action which is written as a youth guide to these calls for change
Access the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society’s Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation range of resources, with free access for the week of September 27th
Read Phyllis Webstad’s story. Phyllis took her own experience and worked to establish Orange Shirt Day, nationally marked September 30th to acknowledge the harm the residential ‘school’ system in Canada has done, honour those who survived, remember those who did not, and recognizes the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma. It is a day to demonstrate, by wearing orange, that every child matters.
Read the Indigenous Ally Toolkit created by The Montreal Indigenous Community Network. In this brochure, you will learn the role that an individual occupies and plays within the collective experience and so much more.
Books and resources shared by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website and organized by grade level (thanks to Carleton Village PS for sharing this resource).
Watch Molly of Dinali episode Grandpa’s Drum

Another Story Book Shop, located at 315 Roncesvalles Ave has a selection of books including in French. All proceeds on September 30 go toward Indigenous initiatives and organizations.

Recommended books include:

The Orange Shirt Story: The True Story of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad
Fatty Legs, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
I Am Not A Number, Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, Gillian Newland
When I was Eight, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story, David Robertson
When We Were Alone, David Robertson
Stolen Words, Melanie Florence, Gabrielle Grimard
Not My Girl, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
As Long As The River Flows, Larry Loyie
Dear Canada: These are my words: The residential school diary of Violet Pesheens
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Governance, Simon Rose
Fishing for Knowledge: Catching Dreams, Cindy Blackstock
Treaties, Simon Rose

French language books:

Les bas de pensionnat, Christy Jordan-Fenton
Cher Journal: les mots qu’il me reste: Violet Pesheens, pensionnaire a l’ecole residentielle, Ruby Slipperjack
Etrangere chez moi: Une histoire vraie, Christy Jordan-Fenton
La gouverance, Simon Rose
Je ne suis pas un numéro, Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, Gillian Newland
L’histoire du chandail orange, Phyllis Webstad
L’intendance, Anita Yasuda
Les mots volés, Melanie Florence, Gabrielle Grimard
Quand j’avais huit ans, Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Gabrielle Grimard
Spirit Bear: Pecher le savoir, attraper des reves: basé sur une histoire vraie, Cindy Blackstock, Amanda Strong
Les traités, Simon Rose

Please visit Another Story’s website for the full list of carefully curated books.

Additional Resources: Our friends at Perth Ave PS have compiled a long list of resources for additional learning (adult and child-focused), and initiatives to support reconciliation. Access the list as a Google document.