"Reconciliation is yours to achieve. We owe it to each other to build a Canada based on our shared future; a future of healing and trust."
- The Honourable Murray Sinclair, LLB MSC IPC
15th Chancellor of Queen’s University
Please join us Monday, September 30, 2024 as we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Event details below are updated regularly.
Background
In 2021, September 30th marked Canada’s first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a newly designated day of remembrance to honour victims and survivors of Canada’s Indigenous residential school system. For years, the 30th of September has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day.
In support of this important moment of reflection and learning, the university will be offering activities and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn, engage, and act toward advancing reconciliation both on and off campus.
An important aspect of Truth and Reconciliation work is committing to your own awareness and self-education of the complex histories as well as ongoing issues facing Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. With this, we encourage you to use the below resources as well as sources of information you discover on your own, to learn more, each day. Please read and sign the commitment to reconciliation here.
Message from Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair (2022)
Events and Learning Opportunities
Please check back in September for more planned events. Events are open to all members of the QU community unless stated otherwise.
To submit your event to this list, please fill out this form.
Wednesday September 18 - Apology from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
The QHS Office of Indigenous Health will be hosting an in-person gathering to watch the video feed on September 18th at 4pm in the School of Medicine Building Room 132A.
View live feed: English | French
Monday September 23 - Survivors' Flag to go up between Douglas Library and Ontario Hall near the Indigenous Past and Futures at Queen’s plinth. The Survivors’ Flag will fly permanently to honour residential school survivors and to serve as a reminder that we must commit to advancing truth and reconciliation year-round.
Please note: there will be no planned event for this item. Members of the community are invited to view the flag after it has been raised for private reflection.
Monday September 23 - Saturday October 12 - Indigenous Art Exhibit @ Union Gallery
Please join us for the 3rd annual Indigenous art display - expanding this year at Union Gallery, in collaboration with the Agnes and Union Gallery teams.
Monday September 23 - Accessibility Café - Layers of Indigenous Experience and Oppression
Presented by the HREO and OII - Marsha Ireland will discuss her experiences as a First Nation Deaf woman, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her journey through joy and oppression.
Details + RSVP.
Tuesday September 24 - Fire @ Outdoor Indigenous Gathering Space - 8:00am to 1:00pm
A chance to come together as a community in support of peace within ourselves and around the world.
Thursday September 26 - Indigenous Traditional Healer: Joe Pitawanakwat of Creators Garden - 6:00 pm
A talk about traditional medicines.
The event will be held in-person (15 Arch St.) and online (via Zoom). Register here. '
Thursday September 26 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Event with Kimberly Murray
10:00 am - Queen's National Scholar in Indigenous Legal Studies, Kimberly Murray, will be presenting her report Sites of Truth, Sites of Conscience - More info + registration
Monday September 30th - Sacred Fire at Agnes Benidickson Field - 1:30 pm
Please join us beginning at 1:15 pm for a sacred fire (speakers to begin at 1:30). This event will include speeches from invited guests as we acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Speaker details to be provided in the coming weeks.
Orange T-shirts on Campus
This year, t-shirts will be made available the week prior to September 30th, as well as on September 30th for purchase for the Queen's community. The payment method will follow a sliding scale from $5 to $20, please give what you are able to. Payment will be card only. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted as payment at the booths. A portion of the proceeds and all food donations will be donated locally to Indigenous organizations.
| Location | Timing |
|---|---|
| University & Union St, in front of Stauffer Library *please check each time for updated rain locations |
Thursday September 26, 12-3 pm *moved inside Mac-Corry due to rain |
| Agnes Benidickson Field, ahead of Sacred Fire event | Monday September 30, 12-1 pm |
To volunteer at an T-Shirt Pop Up Booth, please fill out this form.
Resources
The following resources will help provide education, understanding, and awareness on Indigenous history, current issues, etc.
For a full list of resources, please click here.
Indigenous Organizations
The following are local and province-wide organizations, Indigenous communities, etc. for you to be aware of.
To view more organizations, please click here.