The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to be held annually on September 30, is to honour survivors, their families and communities, and ensure a public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools.
This day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which carries a very important message: that every child matters.
Alberta’s government is committed to working with Indigenous people on truth and reconciliation. We must stand with First Nations, Métis and Inuit teachers, students and communities to honour those who survived and those who did not return home.
We must never forget that residential schools did not allow students to speak their languages or practice their cultures; that some students were emotionally, physically and sexually abused; and that these atrocities affect Indigenous people, families and communities to this day.
Acts of reconciliation advance the recognition of the painful legacy of residential schools. These acts can help Albertans’ understanding of reconciliation-related initiatives that offer a better future for Indigenous peoples.
