Actions and Events
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30th: Reflecting in Truth Toward Reconciliation
Andrea Menard (she / they / ᐑᔭ wîya), Lead Educational Developer for Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies, takes us through the power and importance of recognizing September 30th as both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as Orange Shirt Day, why it matters, and how we move, and reflect, in truth toward reconciliation.
Highway of Tears
Since the late 1960s, at least eighteen young women have disappeared or been found murdered along the 724-kilometre stretch of Highway 16 in northern British Columbia. None of these cold cases were ever solved until 2012, when a special RCMP investigation was able to link DNA from one of the murder victims to deceased US criminal Bobby Jack Fowler; but this single answer has done little to heal the wounds of Indigenous communities who have seen dozens of their young women vanish along the "Highway of Tears". Matt Smiley's hard-hitting documentary not only movingly relates to the personal stories of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, but investigates how the legacy of systemic racism contributed to their tragic fates — and how Indigenous leaders are striving to overcome the endemic today.
Events
September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Events
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Tour and Presentation
September 29, 2022 (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
Augustana Campus L2-102
A placed-based land learning event around Augustana Campus for staff, faculty, students, and the greater (Camrose) community! Come meet Andrea Menard (Lead Educational Developer, Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies - Centre for Teaching and Learning & Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and Victoria Delorme (Indigenous Student Services Coordinator, Augustana Campus). Starting in L2-102, they will share information about the Sweetgrass Bear and the Old Broken Number One statue on campus, as well as the flags that will be placed earlier that week in commemoration of the lives lost and impacted by the Indian Residential School system. Participants will then return to L2-102 to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from Andrea. The event will conclude with an opportunity for connection among faculty and staff with refreshments.
Other Events in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amiskwacîwâskahikan
Indigenous Lawyers' Forum Feb. 14 MMIWG2S & Annual March Virtual Circle
February 14, 2023 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
It has been 2.5 years since the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirit Final Report and Calls for Justice came out that revealed persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root causes behind Canada's staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities and peoples across the country.
February 14th is the Women's Memorial March, a day to remember the murdered and missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit family and community members. The Indigenous Lawyers' Forum remembers and honours all our Indigenous loved ones who have been murdered and gone missing.
Sisters in Spirit: "Highway of Tears" Film with CTL's Andrea Menard
October 4, 2022 (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM)
Join via Zoom
October 4th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, a day when we honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, support grieving families and communities, and create opportunities for healing. Join CTL's Andrea Menard (she / they / ᐑᔭ wîya), Lead Educational Developer for Indigenizing Curricula and Pedagogies for a viewing of "Highway of Tears" (where she grew up alongside in her hometown of Prince George, BC) followed by a debrief.
Sisters in Spirit: Memorial Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
October 4, 2022 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
MacEwan University, Griffins’ Landing (Building 7, across from Starbucks)
October 4th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, a day when we honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, support grieving families and communities, and create opportunities for healing. All are invited to join us at Griffins’ Landing (Building 7, across from Starbucks) at 12 p.m. Led by Knowledge Keeper Cynthia Jim, the memorial walk will start shortly after noon and will proceed through campus to kihêw waciston. On arrival at kihêw waciston, refreshments will be available and Cynthia will share a teaching beginning at 1 p.m.