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Alma Mater Society (AMS) President Jana Amer stood before several hundred Queen’s community members, gathered to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and admitted, she is not an expert. Rather, she is learning.

“I'm honoured to gather with you because this fire carries truths greater than us,” Amer said during the Sacred Fire held at Agnes Benidickson Field. “I'm humbled by the truths that are rooted in this land and carried by the Indigenous people, and echoed by their ancestors, whose voices we must listen to and hear. I stand here as a learner, someone who has stumbled, and continues to stumble, but who keeps returning to the good work.”

Amer’s message underscores one of the intentions of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Observed annually on September 30, the day surfaces the history and profound impact of residential schools on Indigenous peoples and communities. It serves as a moment to reflect on the lives of children lost within that system, honours those who survived it, and it recognizes the impact it has had on generations. Additionally, the day is a reminder to non-Indigenous individuals to dedicate themselves to learning about the harms of residential schools and the residual effect on Indigenous lives.

Residential schools were established in 1831, with the last closing in 1996.

Queen’s University Chancellor Shelagh Rogers, who served as an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, reflected on the purpose of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“It's like Remembrance Day,” Rogers said. “Today is an act of remembrance and reflection, engagement, respectful engagement – the theme of this year's gathering, which is beautiful and right.”

Rogers also stressed the need for people to learn about the residential school system on their own without burdening those in the Indigenous community, re-opening wounds from the trauma of those memories and experiences.

“Let's help the Indigenous community to not always have to do the heavy lifting of educating people who don't know about the residential school era,” Rogers said. “We're about education. We're about flexing our curiosity. There are so many resources to learn about this time.”

Queen’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane remarked on the cruel irony of education being the tool used to harm so many Indigenous children.  

“The children who died or disappeared, in the residential schools, did so while in the care and custody of the Canadian state,” Deane said. “So, among the many lessons to be learned, in this very, very dark story is the need for our institutions, universities like this one, and the state itself, constantly to scrutinize their assumptions, and consider their effect upon those who fall under their influence.”
 

New resources for respectful engagement

To guide these efforts, there are learning opportunities available on the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website and a new resource to support meaningful interactions. A was also created.  

This year’s event marked the 10th year of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report in which 94 calls to action were delivered to the country. It has also been eight years since the ����ֱ�� Truth and Reconciliation Task Force delivered its final report.

Lisa Maracle, Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives), who also spoke, reiterated that there is still much work to be done.

“September 30th brings to light many feelings and emotions, and it means different things to different people,” Maracle said. “Today is a day for all of us to reflect on the impact of the atrocities that residential schools had on our ancestors, our people, and communities, as well as those generations who are still to come. Today is a day that shows the university, the government, and the world, that we are still here. That we have survived these atrocities, and we are still here, strong and working towards learning our languages, our teachings, and reconnecting with community.”

More information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, events, resources, and the reports from the national and university Truth and Reconciliation committees can be found on the website of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.