September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The following message was also distributed to UPEI students, faculty, and staff on September 29 by email.

Dear Members of the UPEI Community,

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, is tomorrow. This is a day for all Canadians to remember the tragic history of residential schools in our country and the intergenerational impacts they have had on First Nations and Indigenous Peoples. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorates the residential school experience, honours the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and commits to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Together, we must recognize the painful legacy of Canada’s residential school system and continue to learn the truths about these institutions.

Education is a key component of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and UPEI has a vital role to play. UPEI had planned to observe the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in a number of ways, but sadly, tropical storm Fiona derailed many of these activities.

Yesterday, the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies and the Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre had planned to host a gathering that included smudging, singing, and drumming, and presentations by Dr. Judy Clark, Elder in Residence, and honoured guest Lisa Cooper, President and Chief of the Native Council of PEI.

The University had also planned to lower the flags on campus to half-mast tomorrow, to honour the survivors, their families, and communities impacted by the residential school system; unfortunately, the flagpoles suffered damage during the storm, so we are unable to do this.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation had partnered with the Native Council of PEI (NCPEI) on a number of activities from September 30–October 2, including prayers, drumming, and hoop dancing during several varsity games and a “Sport & Play Family Day” for NCPEI families featuring soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and track events.

While we are unable to commemorate in these ways this year, there are still many things we can do to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as Treaty Day, October 1, and Mi’kmaq History Month, October 1–31:

• I encourage everyone to wear their Every Child Matters t-shirt or any orange shirt tomorrow.
• The UPEI Robertson Library will be featuring a display in honour of Mi’kmaq History Month.
• A number of resources are available to educate ourselves and others about the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and to fulfilling the specific Calls to Action for post-secondary institutions as outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. For example, UPEI has made the short course 4 Seasons of Reconciliation available to faculty and staff. An icon with a link to the course has been added to myUPEI home page—to access the course, use the enrolment key “UPEIReconciliation.”
• Other online resources can be found on the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies website: https://www.upei.ca/faculty-of-indigenous-knowledge-education-research-and-applied-studies/indigenous-resources-links

I also am pleased to announce that land acknowledgement plaques—in both Mi’kmaq and English languages—have been installed in our campus buildings to always remind us that we are all Treaty people and that UPEI is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq of Epekwitk.

UPEI has made some advancements, but we will always have more work to do. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Treaty Day, and Mi’kmaq History Month, are excellent opportunities to remember lives lost, the survivors, and their families—and to think about what we can continue to do to move towards a better tomorrow.

Wela’lioq, thank you,

Greg

GREG KEEFE, DVM, MSc, MBA (he/him)
President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim)
University of Prince Edward Island