b'TRUTH AND RECONCILIATIONA Sea of OrangeBY JENNIFER ASHAWASEGAI-PEREIRACanadas first-ever National Day for Truth and ReconciliationO n September 30th, Orangepeoples, to establish, as a statutoryend of the day, Canadians should have shirts filled screens acrossholiday, a National Day for Truth anda better understanding of and respect multiple social mediaReconciliation to honour Survivors, theirfor our beliefs, our culture and our way platforms across thefamilies and communities, and ensureof life.country. First Nations held small eventsthat public commemoration of theMeanwhile, Anishinabek Nation in their communities while schools,history and legacy of residential schoolsGrand Council Chief Reg Niganobe municipalities and corporations markedremains a vital component of the recon- noticed that while awareness has been the first-ever National Day for Truth andciliation process. increasing, there is still a long way to go. Reconciliation with educational events.This particular recommendation wasI [saw] orange shirts everywhere, he While the orange shirt campaign isimplemented after the first 215 bodiessaid. It was hard to find orange shirts nothing new in Indigenous communi- of children were recovered in late May[for sale]; awareness is growing. tiesthe first Orange Shirt Day took2021 at a former Indian ResidentialThe Anishinabek Nation lowered place in 2013the Government ofSchool in Kamloops, B.C. By the end ofits flags on September 30th, and staff Canada announced new legislation thisNovember, over 7,000 remains had beenattended events in their own respective past summer to recognize the day as arecovered, and the number continuescommunities. national statutory holiday, as recom- to climb as communities and familiesFarther north, Fort William First mended by the Truth and Reconciliationsearch for unmarked graves.Nation marked the occasion with a Commissions Calls to Action releasedThese Indigenous-known atrocitiestwo-day pow wow, which included a in 2015.have shocked Canadians into openingsunrise ceremony along with education, About 150,000 First Nation, Inuittheir eyes and hearts, as many of themawareness and healing through dancing and Mtis children attended Indianhad little to no knowledge of Indianand drumming. Meanwhile, next door Residential Schools from the 1860sResidential Schools before the news thisin Thunder Bay, Nishnawbe Aski Nation until as recently as 1996. The Truthpast spring.(NAN) hosted a ceremony commemo-and Reconciliation Commission ofWahnapitae First Nation Chief Larryrating the day on the grounds of Pope Canada documented stories fromRoque told media on September 30thJohn Paul II Senior Elementary School, Survivors and families and issuedthat people need to learn and acknowl- which is also the site of the former St. a report called Calls to Action.edge Canadian history. It should beJosephs Indian Residential School.Recommendation 80 of the reportan opportunity to read the Treaties andIn a September 30th statement, states, We call upon the federal govern- learn about the realities of ResidentialNAN Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty ment, in collaboration with AboriginalSchools, he told Sudbury.com. At theAchneepineskum said, We will grieve 16l I ssue2 2021/22C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'