{"id":6795,"date":"2025-09-30T15:16:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T19:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/?p=6795"},"modified":"2026-03-05T10:36:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:36:43","slug":"message-from-the-director-on-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/socialwork\/2025\/message-from-the-director-on-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation\/","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Director on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Message from the Director on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Canada is confronting a painful truth: the treatment of Indigenous peoples throughout Canada\u2019s history constitutes a genocide. This reality is not confined to the distant past\u2014it reverberates through generations, rooted in policies designed to erase Indigenous identity, culture, and language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most devastating tools of this systemic violence was the residential school system, which operated for over a century and persisted into the 1990s. These institutions forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, subjecting them to abuse, neglect, and cultural erasure. The goal was assimilation\u2014an effort to sever children from their communities and heritage. Thousands never returned home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission\u2019s Calls to Action, the Government of Canada established the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021 through Bill C-5. Observed annually on September 30, this day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a day established by Indigenous communities to honour the children who were lost and the survivors who carry the scars. The orange shirt symbolizes the removal of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools. It reminds us that Every Child Matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The School of Social Work<\/strong> stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities. We recognize the profound importance of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We acknowledge the grief, anger, and resilience of families whose children were taken in an attempt to erase their identities. We commit to listening, learning, and acting in ways that honour Indigenous voices and support healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this solemn day, we invite all members of our community\u2014students, faculty, staff, and allies\u2014to reflect deeply on the legacy of colonial violence and the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma. Reconciliation is not a passive process; it requires active engagement, humility, and accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether through attending events, reading survivor testimonies, or wearing orange in solidarity, your participation matters. You can be a catalyst for education, empathy, and meaningful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources and Events<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/strong>To support your journey of reflection and learning, we encourage you to explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n