National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The public is invited to attend an all-ages gathering to honour and observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday, September 28, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Bridgewater South Shore Public Libraries branch at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre (LCLC).

This year’s event will feature the unveiling of the library’s new welcome signage, created by local Mi’kmaw artist Jessica Jerome.

Following the unveiling, Rowan Currie will lead attendees in learning about Mi’kmaw Elder Ma’kit Poulette and her experience at Shubenacadie Residential School making rag dolls.

This will include he showing of the short film “Ma’kit’s Doll,” which tells the story of her arrival at the Shubenacadie Residential School at the age four, how her doll was taken away from her leading to her creating dolls from her cleaning rags. As an adult, Ma’kit searched for a doll that reminded her of the doll that was stolen from her.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament.

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.