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Welcome to Field Notes, a series from the Reconciliation & Inclusion team, offering curated resources to support deeper learning and inclusive practices across Seneca. Each issue will feature a bespoke collection of resources — such as books, TV shows and events — that the team has personally engaged with, reflected on and found meaningful in our own learning.
📖Read 📺Watch & Listen 🎫Other Recommendations
READ
The Knowing, by Tanya Talaga “We have always known.” In this deeply personal work, Ms. Talaga traces Canadian history by mapping it onto her own family.
Why: Pay special attention to the ribbon skirt she wears and mentions. It was a gift from Seneca’s Fashion students, symbolizing cultural strength and continuity.
Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese A haunting novel about Saul Indian Horse, a boy taken to Residential School who later discovers hockey as both refuge and reminder of loss.
Why: It blends two powerful truths — the trauma of Residential Schools and the cultural weight of hockey — into a heartbreaking narrative.
52 Ways to Reconcile, by David A. Robertson A practical guide that breaks reconciliation into weekly steps that are approachable, thoughtful and conversational. Mr. Robertson shows that reconciliation doesn’t have to feel overwhelming if we start small.
Why: This should be your primer if you are wondering how to begin your journey towards reconciliation.
WATCH & LISTEN
CBC’s Bones of Crows An epic Canadian story of an Indigenous woman’s journey from community life to Residential School, to the Vatican. It’s intimate and shows survival through generations.
Why: It highlights the resilience of Residential School survivors and their families who carry their stories forward.
Crave’s Little Bird After Residential Schools came the 60s Scoop, a policy where Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and placed into foster care or adopted into non-Indigenous households. This series follows one woman’s journey back to her roots as she pieces together a life torn apart.
Why: The 60s Scoop was just as devastating as the Residential School system, and its effects continue today.
Stolen: Surviving St. Michaels, by Connie Walker In this Pulitzer-Prize winning podcast, Ms. Walker traces her father’s experiences at Residential School and uncovers how that history shaped her family. Along the way, she reveals the lasting scars left by the men who ran these institutions.
Why: It’s essential listening to understand the intergenerational impacts of Residential Schools.
Sugarcane This documentary investigates the dark legacy of St. Joseph's Mission Residential School, where Indigenous babies were fathered by priests. Blending personal narrative with community testimony, the film uncovers a hidden history of abuse, disappearance and silence, while tracing the filmmaker’s own journey to understand his father and confront generational trauma.
Why: It challenges viewers not only to witness the atrocities but to consider how silence and survival shape Indigenous families today.
We Were Children In this documentary, Survivors expose the systemic abuse, cultural erasure and trauma inflicted from residential schools. Their stories illuminate the enduring legacy of these institutions and the resilience of those who lived through them.
Why: This is a very difficult movie to watch, however, it gives a personal perspective from the children's lived experience.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Aaniin Aaniin is an Indigenous-owned brand and retailer rooted in language reclamation and cultural pride that centre Indigenous identity, stories and aesthetics. The company was born from a moment of curiosity and vision that has grown into a thriving platform that uplifts Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Why: The founder, Chelsee-Marie Pettit, was inspired to add QR codes to the garments to ensure Indigenous syllabics can be translated so people are informed about what they are wearing. This year’s orange shirt has a QR code that passes on the 94 calls to action and the syllabic translations.
Red Rebel Armour An Indigenous-owned company rooted in contemporary fashion with Indigenous aesthetics, Red Rebel Armour creates streetwear that celebrates Indigenous identity, resilience and pride.
Why: Red Rebel provides meaningful employment for Indigenous members reentering society. This year’s orange shirt design was done by Vincent Design, an Indigenous creative agency based in Winnipeg.
Seneca Campus Store The Seneca Campus Store is the stop for all course materials, apparel and gifts. The bookstore carries orange shirts, making it easy for students, staff and faculty to purchase in store at Newnham Campus or online.
Why: Each year, the Campus Store releases a new orange shirt design created by an Indigenous artist, with proceeds supporting Indigenous charities. Current and past designs are available for purchase.
Where are the Children This interactive site and exhibition traces the history of Canada’s Residential School System through archival photographs, documents and Survivor testimonies. The project fosters public awareness and healing by documenting the enduring impacts of these schools on generations of Indigenous families.
Why: This resource is especially vital for educators, community leaders and anyone committed to truth and reconciliation, offering a powerful entry point into learning, reflection and action.
While you're here, check out the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation published by Seneca Libraries for more resources.
The Reconciliation & Inclusion team knows the best learning happens in conversation. Let us know if you explore any of the resources above, or if there’s something you’d recommend we include in future editions. Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments, or email us at ri@senecapolytechnic.ca.
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