Last Thursday, September 30, was the first observance of a new national holiday in Canada – The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day to reflect on the history of injustice and oppression of Indigenous people who were the victims and survivors of the Indigenous Residential Schools that functioned in Canada from 1831-1998. The following quote summarizing the purpose of the day comes from an address by the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.:
“Today, I invite everyone across the country to recognize and observe the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation . It is a day to reflect on the painful and lasting impacts of residential schools in Canada, and to honour survivors, their families, and their communities. It is also a day to remember the many children who never returned home, and an opportunity for us all to learn more, and to affirm the need for reconciliation and commit ourselves to the work ahead.”
The new holiday is just one of 94 actions called for by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 2008. Indigenous leaders and the Canadian government have implemented many of the other actions and continue to move forward with others. The two videos posted below feature scenes and reflections from last week’s first observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Unfortunately this important witness of our neighbors to the north received little attention in our country. Even more unfortunately, the United States of America has yet to establish our own Truth and Reconciliation Commission to focus on our own history of injustice and oppression of Indigenous People, Black People, and other People of Color. While we have many national holidays that lift up the achievements of our nation, we still tend to negate or minimize our national sin of racism. The witness of Canada and South Africa show that we cannot have reconciliation before or apart from facing the truth of the most difficult and challenging parts of our history that continue to impact us today. As people of faith, we know that this is consistent with the Biblical call to confession, repentance, repair, reconciliation, and healing. I am grateful for the witness of our neighbors to the north and look forward to the time when we will have our own Truth and Reconciliation Commission and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.