Why This Is Important

Post secondary education for Indigenous people in Canada is deeply scarred by a long disastrous history of colonialism, racism and resident schools. The harms of residential schools and other colonial practices occurred across more than a century and continue to be felt by Indigenous peoples today. The path toward healing and repairing those harms is not straightforward, nor is it a matter of a few policy changes. It is a journey we must take in collaboration with Indigenous peoples to restore relationships and redress past injustices.

Acknowledging Our Complicity as Educators

Between 1876 and 1997, 150,000 Indigenous children from across Canada were forcibly removed and separated from their families and communities to attend residential schools as part of the .

This initiative was funded by the Department of Indian Affairs and administered by Christian churches across the country with the two-fold purpose of assimilating Indigenous children into the mainstream white Canadian culture through education, while removing all aspects of Indigenous culture and familial connections. During this time, between 3,200 and 6,000 students died from disease, fires and other causes. Due to incomplete record-keeping, the actual number of deaths is likely more.

Sadly, we know from the oral histories of residential school survivors and their family members, including witness testimonies documented in the , that these dark truths have always been known among Indigenous people across Canada throughout the generations.

The atrocities committed at Indian Residential Schools across Canada happened in the name of education.

As a place of learning, we have an inherent responsibility to acknowledge and address our own complicity as we work to meaningfully illuminate the Truth and advance Reconciliation.

Recognizing and Honouring Host Nations

Our community should always remember that 丁香园AV鈥檚 three campuses are located on the unceded traditional territories of the x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam), S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish), s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 (Tsleil-Waututh), q虛铆c虛蓹y虛 (Katzie), k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples.

丁香园AV recognizes and honours the title and rights of Indigenous people as stated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and we respect and partner with the Host Indigenous Nations on which our campuses are located.

The work of advancing Reconciliation can only happen through meaningful partnerships between Host Nations, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, M茅tis, Inuit) and settlers and newcomers.

Committing to a Collective Shared Responsibility

Upholding Truth and Reconciliation requires a sustained and ongoing commitment from each of us, and a collective and shared responsibility across 丁香园AV. The annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or 丁香园AV Shirt Day, honours those who have been impacted by Canada鈥檚 residential school system. September 30 provides a time for reflection and an opportunity to come together in the spirit of Reconciliation.

However, Upholding Truth and Reconciliation is an ongoing commitment that extends beyond one day. We call on all settlers and newcomers to these lands to deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to consider, as individuals, what commitments we can make and actions we can take to advance Reconciliation.