National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Dear colleagues,

On Saturday, September 30, we will come together as a nation to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day  to publicly acknowledge the history and harms of Residential Schools in Canada. This occasion serves as an opportunity for us all to pause, remember, and commit ourselves to a path of acknowledging difficult truths, increasing our understanding of the past, and supporting Indigenous communities as we unlearn biases.

To mark the occasion, we encourage you to wear an orange shirt or the orange shirt pin as an act of solidarity as we collectively honour Survivors and forever remember the children who never returned home. Furthermore, we encourage you to participate in local Orange Shirt Day events, learn more about Indian Residential schools where you live, explore the resources available within Parks Canada and participate in related activities that promote understanding and awareness of Indigenous cultures and histories including:

  • Watch Shubenacadie Residential School, a video that amplifies the voices of Survivors of the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, created in collaboration with Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre and Parks Canada.

We stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities, Survivors, and all those who are impacted by the painful legacy of the residential school system and other injustices. We acknowledge that residential schools, created under Canadian law, systematically disrupted First Nations, Métis and Inuit families for generations, causing the loss of lives, cultural teachings, lands and languages. Our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships, engaging in respectful dialogue, and taking concrete actions toward reconciliation has never been more critical.

We acknowledge and pay tribute to the historic and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples and their profound ties to ancestral lands, waters and ice that make sharing the connections of these places possible. Today, we are honoured to work alongside a diverse array of Indigenous partners and communities in conserving these places in a way that supports cultural continuity. As we undertake the responsibility of being respectful partners, we aim to acknowledge truths, address historical injustices, and promote the spirit of reconciliation in all areas of our work, including through the development of an Indigenous Stewardship Framework and implementation of the UN Declaration Act Action Plan.

We recognize that the immense loss and ongoing trauma caused by the residential school system is triggering for Parks Canada team members. If you are having a difficult time, we encourage you to reach out for help. Please talk with a trusted friend or colleague, an Elder, a professional, or consider using one or more of the valuable resources below that are ready and available to provide support:

As we move forward, we must continue our efforts to create a supportive and welcoming environment for Indigenous colleagues, partners, and communities.

 

Miigwech / Kleco / Ekosani / Maarsii / Meegwetch / Mahseecho / Ma’na / Wopida / Hei Hei / ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ /  Qujannamiik / ᖁᐊᓇᖅᑯᑎᑦ/ Quanaqqutit / Marci Cho / Nakurmiik / ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ / Huy ch q’u / Kukwstsétsemc / Woliwun / Haawa / Wela’lioq / Mahsi Cho / Quyanainni / Hai’choo / Tshinashkumitin / Nia:wen / Merci / Thank you

 

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

 

Nadine Spence

Vice President, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage

Champion of Indigenous Employees Network

 

 

Reminder to managers: In keeping with Parks Canada's procedures for communications with employees, managers are responsible for ensuring all team members under their responsibility receive the information intended for them. It is important that you find a means to transmit this message and, if any, the attachment(s) to employees without access to Parks Canada e-mail or the intranet, e.g. by posting it, circulating a paper copy or by any other appropriate means.

 

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