A large crowd of campus community members, mostly in orange t-shirts, gathered on Agnes Benidickson Field Monday afternoon for a sacred fire, listening closely to speeches commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Observed every year on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is dedicated to reflecting on the history of Canada’s residential school system, which operated from 1831 to 1996. It is a time to acknowledge the harmful impacts residential schools continue to have on Indigenous Peoples and communities, and to remember its victims and survivors.

Mika Henry, Associate Director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, urged attendees, particularly non-Indigenous, to reflect critically on their role in reconciliation. 

“Ask yourself: how can I continually work at supporting Indigenous people and my Indigenous colleagues, and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in the curriculum on a daily basis — beyond the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” says Henry. “True allyship is showing up every day, not just to events. Release yourself from the concept of performative allyship, being an ally because you think it will help with your public image or serves as a checkbox for your EDII work. Dive deeper into true, meaningful, ongoing engagements, relationship-building and activities.” 

The event also included remarks by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion) Lavonne Hood, and Rector Niki Boytchuk-Hale. Armand Garnet Ruffo, an artist, faculty member, and a member of the Chapleau Cree First Nation, also read two poems from his most recent book, The Dialogues: The Song of Francis Pegahmagabow.

“Institutions like schools and universities are powerful places of cultural formation,” says Principal Deane. “They exercise a profound effect on the societies in which they are embedded, and upon the individuals who come through them. But what the residential school’s history tells us, of course, is that that power can be grossly misused. Similarly, resources and the people of an institution like Queen’s can turn to address that history and achieve the kinds of constructive outcomes we all need and wish for.”

In her remarks, Rector Boytchuk-Hale expressed her joy at seeing so many students in attendance and urged everyone to set Truth and Reconciliation goals for themselves for the following year. She also noted when the day was first recognized four years ago, class schedules made it difficult for students to attend the day’s important events. The university has since introduced a policy which suspends academic activities to give space for staff, students, and faculty to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Lavonne Hood emphasized that Truth and Reconciliation is a year-round endeavour, challenging non-Indigenous members of the audience to listen, learn, and to “do the work.” 

“It is important for non-Indigenous people to take responsibility for our own education without placing the burden upon Indigenous people to educate us,” she says. “While it is important to listen to and amplify Indigenous voices, we should not expect that Indigenous people will do the work of reconciliation and Indigenization themselves. As non-Indigenous people and allies, we must take initiative and do the work to learn about these issues and take action.”

Queen's community members attend the sacred fire on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

A month of learning and events

The sacred fire concluded September’s events commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Queen’s, but the third annual Indigenous Art Exhibition at Union Gallery remains open until Oct. 12. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), Agnes Etherington Art Centre, and Union Gallery, celebrates Indigenous artists and their work.

Throughout the month, schools and departments across Queen’s held events in conjunction with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Queen’s Health Sciences hosted a viewing of the Canadian Medical Association’s apology to Indigenous Peoples. An Accessibility Café session, hosted by the Human Rights and Equity Office and the OII, featured Marsha Ireland, who shared her experiences as a First Nations deaf woman, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, as well as her journey through joy and oppression. Joe Pitawanakwat, an Indigenous traditional healer with Creators Garden, also gave a talk about traditional medicines.

Earlier in September, Queen’s raised the Survivors’ Flag in honour of residential school victims and survivors. It will remain flying permanently as a reminder that advancing Truth and Reconciliation is a year-round commitment.

Learn more about Indigenous Initiatives at Queen’s.