Tuesday, September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day. This is a time for us to commemorate the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
At the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), we deeply value the importance of this day. It reminds us why our work is so critical and reaffirms our commitment to advancing housing rights for all, particularly for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who are disproportionately impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis.
We have put together a collection of resources to help you reflect, learn and take action on this day and beyond. Our collective efforts can help build a Canada where respect, understanding and inclusion are at the heart of who we are. On September 30th, and every day, let’s take meaningful steps to support Indigenous communities and advance reconciliation.
Publications and Reports
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Sacred Responsibility: Searching for the Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
- Research – Yellowhead Institute
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Reports
Resources
- Resources – Orange Shirt Society
- Resources and Publications – Legacy of Hope Foundation
- The Indigenous History of Tkaronto
- Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
- Montreal Indigenous Community Network
- What is Land Back? – David Suzuki
- Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit
- City of Toronto Resources
Shows
Films (Short and Feature-Length)
- Indian Horse
- Bones of Crows
- A Mother’s Voice
- Yintah
- Indigenous cinema at the National Film Board
- Awakenings ― We Were Always Here ― A Portrait in Red
- Awakenings ― We Were Always Here ― Acknowledgment
- Indigenous Language Documentaries – Canadian Language Museum
- Wildhood
Podcasts
- Residential Schools podcast – Historica Canada
- Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo – CBC Podcasts
- This Land – Crooked Media
- Telling our Twisted Histories podcast
Books
- Indigenous Reading List: Truth and Reconciliation – Calgary Public Library
- 30 must-read books to learn about the Indigenous experience in North America – curated by Michelle Good
- Braiding Sweetgrass (Indigenous wisdom and teachings of plants)
- Seven Fallen Feathers (nonfiction)
- Five Little Indians (fictionalized accounts of Residential Schools)
- UNeducation (graphic novel)
- The Only Good Indians (horror)
- Bad Cree (horror)
- Take Us to Your Chief: and Other Stories (sci-fi short story collection)
Education
- Yellowhead School Online
- Canadian Bar Association – Indigenous Cultural Awareness Course
- British Columbia Institute of Technology: Indigenous Awareness
- UBC: Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education
- Pîkiskwêtân: The Indigenous Learning Series
- Compilation of Learning Resources – Government of Canada
Support Indigenous Vendors: Buy an Orange Shirt
- Orange Shirt Society
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Indspire
- Indigenous Box
- Native Arts Society
- Native Northwest
- Resist Clothing