4 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
Observed annually on September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established by the federal government in 2021 to honour residential school survivors, their families, and communities. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, it is an opportunity to continue to acknowledge the wrongs of the past, learn from them, and support those who were impacted.
BY JANINE LEGAL E arlier this month, the Manitoba government announced a $20 million commitment towards the construction of a permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba. The new facility will serve as a home for sacred entities and historical records, including oral testimonies from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada that documented the history and ongoing impact of the residential school system on Indigenous children, their families and communities. Over at the downtown University of Winnipeg campus, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation events were planned to run over a period of time leading up to the noteworthy day. Grace Redhead, Director of Indigenous Community Relations, said planning was being done differently this year to ensure more representation.
“New this year, the Truth and Reconciliation committee is pulling folks from units across campus, including deans, faculty, staff… spreading the work, so it’s not all sitting with one individual unit. We are bringing all that together.” The University of Winnipeg’s Truth and Reconciliation week started on the morning of September 22nd, with the raising of the Survivors’ flag in front of Wesley Hall. Designed by Survivors with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Survivors’ flag honours all the lives and communities impacted by residential schools. Hosted by Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Engagement, the public event featured Dr. Chantal Fiola, with remarks by President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Todd Mondor and Dr. Mary Jane McCallum. Special guests included Wayne Mason, from the Southern Chiefs Organization, who shared information about their upcoming walk and powwow. The flag will remain up
until after the 30th, continuing to illuminate Wesley Hall, and will stay lit orange for the week. On September 23rd, UWSA, CFS, and Indigenous Engagement were busy distributing 500 orange shirts to the campus community. This year’s shirt features artwork by Micaela Gilbert, Anishinaabe artist from Sagkeeng First Nation. Everyone is welcome to wear their orange shirts throughout the week. September 25th featured an informative lecture titled Lux et Veritas: Shedding Light and Truth on the University of Winnipeg’s History with the Indian Residential School System. The public event examined Obligation 39 of the 2024 final report of the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools, which urges universities to investigate their role in the residential school system and make reparations. It explored the links between residential schools and the
founding colleges of UWinnipeg, emphasizing the University’s ongoing responsibility to address the historic harms. On Monday, September 29th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Convocation Hall, Sheila North will host a fireside chat and book signing with author Bruce Mcivor, exploring his book Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation. The campus bookstore will be there selling his books. Internationally renowned as an expert in Aboriginal law and an advocate for Indigenous rights, Bruce McIvor delivers concise, essential information for Canadians committed to truth and reconciliation, offering plain answers to 100 essential questions being asked by Canadians across the country. To mark the end of the week-long celebrations, the University of Winnipeg will join in and contribute to the events of September 30th.
Powered by FlippingBook