Truth and Reconciliation Day - September 30, 2024 - Healing and Allyship

On September 30, we join with Indigenous communities across Canada in commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day also known as Orange Shirt Day. Let us reflect on the legacy of residential schools and the enduring impacts they have had on Indigenous families and communities.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which urged the federal government to create a statutory holiday to honor survivors of residential schools and remember the children who never returned home. This day is an opportunity for us all to engage in the ongoing process of reconciliation by acknowledging past wrongs and taking steps towards healing.

We are called upon to remember the thousands of Indigenous children who were forcibly taken from their families and placed in residential schools. Many of these children never returned home reminding us of their lives cut short and the cultural genocide inflicted upon Indigenous peoples. As members of CUPW, we must recognize the role that institutions, including the postal service, played in these colonial systems, and commit to supporting the truth-telling necessary for reconciliation.

Children who did survive into adulthood carry a heavy burden. The more we hold space for

those who suffered at the hands of a genocidal regime,  the more likely it is that they can find peace and serenity. Solidarity means walking alongside them.

Healing is a journey that requires collective effort. It involves supporting survivors, families, and communities as they work through the trauma inflicted by residential schools. This theme also reminds us to care for one another and the land, embracing the traditional knowledge that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations.

ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE:

Wear Orange: Wearing an orange shirt on September 30 shows solidarity with Indigenous communities and symbolizes our commitment to acknowledging the harms of the past. You can buy one here: https://union-store.com/cupw/

Learn and become more aware: Take time to learn about the history and legacy of residential schools. Resources from the Orange Shirt Society and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation are valuable tools for understanding the full impact of these institutions.

Support Indigenous-led Initiatives: Consider contributing to organizations dedicated to preserving Indigenous culture and supporting survivors. Participating in or organizing events that focus on reconciliation is another meaningful way to show support.

Solidarity,