September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day for reflection on the painful legacy of residential schools and the resulting intergenerational trauma and ongoing harm to Indigenous peoples.
This is our community’s collective commitment to taking action, learning and unlearning.
To me, reconciliation is to try to rebuild the Indigenous culture that was taken through the residential school system. It is to honour and learn about the culture and traditions of the land we live on.
“McMaster EngiQueers will foster reconciliation by continuing to decolonize engineering spaces, supporting Indigenous-led projects, and building inclusive, sustainable solutions that honour both Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ identities year-round.”
“As engineers with disabilities, we recognize that Indigenous communities face compounded challenges, including higher rates of disability and barriers to mental health support. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we commit to advocating for a holistic approach to wellness that honours Indigenous traditions, addressing mental health, addiction, and disability not in isolation, but as interconnected facets of well-being. We will strive to support solutions that reduce these inequities, promoting healing and accessibility for all.”
“The McMaster Women in Engineering Society is committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity, learning and growth. To honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation we commit to reading and understanding the TRC’s 94 calls to action and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG) 231 calls to action. We will support McMaster AISES Orange Shirt sales and wear our Orange Shirts as a reminder of the impacts of Residential Schools. We will strive to amplify Indigenous voices on campus and in our community not just on September 30, but year-round.”
“To honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I’ll be reading Seven Fallen Feathers by investigative journalist and Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga and joining AISES at one of their Orange T-Shirt Sales in the JHE Lobby.”
“I am taking the Indigenous Canada online course and encouraging my own research team to participate in this important learning experience. Additionally, I am committed to raising awareness within my young family by supporting Orange Shirt sales to honour and remember the impacts of Residential Schools. Through these actions, I hope to gain a greater understanding of Indigenous history and learn how I can advance Truth and Reconciliation.”
“I am committed listening to Indigenous voices through podcasts, webinars, books etc. to deepen my understanding. Through community-based participatory research, I aim to ensure Indigenous perspectives influence research, policy, and decision-making.”
“This year, I will read the four-volume “The Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada”. Committing to learning the truth, is an essential first step towards truly meaningful reconciliation.”
“This year, I’m committed to exploring themes of identity, resilience, and hidden truths by reading *Beautiful Scars* by Tom Wilson and joining the Indigenous Studies Department book club. I’ll wear my McMaster AISES Orange Shirt and attend the vendor market at MUSC, while supporting and encouraging my colleagues to engage in these valuable learning experiences.”
“My commitment to advancing Truth and Reconciliation prioritizes continuous learning by reading books about the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples and participating in discussion forums with colleagues. On September 30, my team will be spending an hour together where we will discuss our key learnings/takeaways and reflections from a recent e-module we completed on Indigenous perspectives.”
“I’ve borrowed Every Child Matters by Phyllis Webstad from the library to read to my daughter’s Embers unit at our Sept. 30 meeting and will tune into Dr. Rick Monture’s Truth and Reconciliation presentation on Sept. 23.”
I am doing the Indigenous Canada, 12 modules free course at the University of Alberta to educate myself.
