The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is coming up on September 30th. It is a day to honour the survivors of residential schools and better understand the ongoing impacts that colonization has on the lives of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Waterloo marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a Sunrise Ceremony, Commitment Polishing Ceremony, Truth and Reconciliation Walk, and Drumming and Round Dance. Being part of the University of Waterloo community requires that we all understand that the land used by the university lies on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples, and that the path towards reconciliation requires on going work and effort.
The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace and Advancement team seeks to respect the day for Truth and Reconciliation by participating in UWaterloo’s Truth and Reconciliation events, as well as promoting different Indigenous-led events through Peace Week and across the year.
Most notably this year, on September 29th, Sarah Augustine, a respected Indigenous author and Pueblo (Tewa) activist, will be visiting Conrad Grebel to inspire and equip individuals with insights from her work on peace building and dismantling oppressive systems at the community level. She will engage in dialogue with Mennonite Action, who works towards public, nonviolent action for peace and justice locally.
An annual highlight for the campus community and the Peace Week calendar, is the Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát 22nd Annual Pow Wow,a gathering to celebrate Indigenous heritage and culture. This Pow Wow will feature multiple Indigenous vendors, dancers, and singers, and is an amazing opportunity for different communities to come together in celebration on the north campus of the University of Waterloo.
Earlier in the week, community members are invited to attend Sacred Fire and Sacred Stories. This event takes place around the Sacred Fire in Willow River Park and is an evening for listening to stories of the Residential School System, along with conversations about the meaning behind Orange Shirt Day. People from around the region are encouraged to join to confront the past and aim for a better tomorrow.
Beyond Peace Week events and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous peoples still face systemic barriers and hardships year-round, and solutions to these issues are complex.
Mennonite Central Committe, a Core Collaborator of the Centre for Peace Advancement, works towards untangling injustices and repairing relations through their Indigenous Neighbours program, including looking at the over-incarceration of Indigenous women in the colonial justice system.
In the Grebel Peace Incubator, BWOSS is making waves in advocating and empowering Black and Indigenous women of colour in the workplace. Throughout decades of Canadian history, Indigenous peoples, especially Indigenous women, have been faced with hardships and marginalization upon entering the workforce. In the words of Hana, the co-founder of BWOSS: “By equipping women with essential skills, building confidence, and fostering powerful networks, we break down barriers and challenge biases, ensuring equitable pathways to success for underrepresented women.”
Ultimately, it is important to acknowledge that the process of reconciliation and the undoing of systemic barriers for Indigenous peoples cannot be contained to one singular day or week. Reconciliation is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and understanding, and decolonizing our minds and communities is just the first step.