National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a time for listening, learning, and seeking understanding about devastating effects of residential schools
Trigger warning: residential schools

At Athabasca University, we prioritize our ongoing work of Indigenization across the university.
This takes many diverse forms: from student services to affordability, to respect of Indigenous histories, practices, and communities in our course materials; from research methodologies to our impacts and our systems.
I encourage you to join me in commemorating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by listening, learning, and seeking to understand more about the traumatic loss of culture, freedom and self-esteem from residential schools.
To honour this important day, Athabasca University will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday commemorating and honouring the victims and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. It is also Orange Shirt Day, when we are encouraged to wear orange to affirm that Every Child Matters and acknowledge the trauma experienced by generations of Indigenous children.
You can support and mark this day by participating in an event, wearing orange, or learning from our index of resources from Nukskahtowin, our Indigenous leadership centre which has the critical role of coordinating AU's work with Indigenous learners, communities and partners in our ongoing efforts to foster kwayskahsatsowin (conciliation).
Further information about this important day and the work it represents can also be found through the .
Sincerely,
Dr. Alex Clark, President
Athabasca University
Banner image: A beaded 星空影视medallion created by Alexandra Roy and Dione Rain of Paul's First Nation.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day events
Athabasca
Edmonton
- Orange Shirt Day (TELUS World of Science)
Calgary
- Pokaiks Commemorative Walk - Remembering Our Children (CIF Reconciliation Society)
St. Albert
Online
- Sept. 26
Teachings and resources
I urge all members of the 星空影视community to take a moment to learn and reflect on Sept. 30. Here are some important resources compiled by our colleagues in Nukskahtowin:
- (CBC Kids)
- , Sept. 23-27 (virtual events)
Books
Films
- (Netflix)
- (National Film Board of Canada)
- (Vimeo)
- (YouTube)
- (IMDB)