National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | MyNews | Seneca Students

TO: All Students and Employees
FROM: David Agnew, President
RE: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On Friday, September 30, we will mark the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the tragic and multigenerational impacts of residential schools. Please wear orange on Friday to honour the many children who never returned home from residential schools as well as survivors, their families and communities.

Flags at Seneca, including an orange flag, will fly at half-mast to recognize the thousands of innocent Indigenous children who died at residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women in Canada.

This is also a day when we gather to bring conversations about truth and reconciliation to the forefront in our learning spaces and the broader Seneca community. During classes and meetings, I encourage you to pause and reflect on the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

As the path to reconciliation is long, it is important to recognize the progress being achieved. Recently, this has included an historic visit and apology from Pope Francis (call to action #59 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission) and the opening of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, an Anishinaabe postsecondary institute in Sault Ste. Marie.

On September 30, events have been organized at Seneca to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including:

• a conversation with Duncan McCue, award-winning CBC journalist and host of the Kuper Island podcast
• the sale of a custom Seneca orange shirt, designed by Indigenous artist Isaac Murdoch, with proceeds from sales going to the Candy Palmater Memorial Award
• an unveiling of Mr. Murdoch’s design on a mural covering the windows facing the courtyard of the Stephen E. Quinlan building at Seneca@York
• the signing of a letter of intent by Confederation, Humber and Seneca to develop an Honours Bachelor of Indigenous Leadership and Community Development degree program
• a variety of Indigenous-inspired menu items on campus, available this week from Seneca Dining services in partnership with the Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nations

Event details and resources are available on MySeneca.

Indigenous Peoples across Canada can receive support through The Hope for Wellness Help Line for counselling and crisis intervention: call 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.