Residents encouraged to reflect for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Fri, 17 Sep 2021

Town activities recognize the residential school experience and offer opportunity to learn about, and support, Indigenous communities

The Town of Oakville is offering a number of ways for residents to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation throughout September. Over the next few weeks, Oakville residents are invited to reflect on the residential school experience and engage in the following activities to learn more about Indigenous communities:

• Wear an orange shirt to raise awareness about the intergenerational impact and trauma residential schools have had on Indigenous communities and make a donation to the Orange Shirt Society to support their work in commemorating the residential school experience and fostering reconciliation. 
• Participate in a guided in-person tour of the Moccasin Trail at Lions Valley with Indigenous guide Stephen Paquette and with Halton Catholic District School Board Indigenous Education Advisor and Grandmothers Voice co-founder Sherry Saevil on Saturday, September 25. Spaces are limited to 10-15 people. 
• Watch singer Shawnee Kish perform at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on September 30 at 8 p.m.
• Enjoy a walk along the Moccasin Trails and explore the history of the lands from an Indigenous perspective. Follow the Moccasin Trails signs along Bronte Creek Heritage Trail and along Sixteen Mile Creek Inner Valley to Dundas Street West at Lions Valley.
• Visit Tannery Park and explore the First Nations history wall and Moccasin Identifier, which was built to promote public awareness of the significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Métis and Indigenous communities.
• Read Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the NHL's First Treaty Indigenous Player by Fred Sasakamoose and participate in a OPL virtual book club event in partnership with the Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable and Burlington and Halton Hills Public Libraries.
• Read a book from the following OPL reading lists to learn more about the Indigenous community:
  • Residential Schools In Canada
  • Celebrate Indigenous History Month – Picture Books
  • Celebrate Indigenous History Month – Kids
  • Celebrate Indigenous Stories – Middle School
  • Celebrate Indigenous History Month – Teens
  • Celebrate Indigenous History Month - Adult Titles
• Watch Indigenous films, presented in association with Indigenous community leaders, OPL and other community partners, and join in discussions about everyone’s shared responsibility to care for the Earth. The films honour Indigenous culture and the contributions of Indigenous people. Entry and activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with the film presentation beginning at 7 p.m. at the following locations:
  • Thursday, September 23. UPDATE: Due to rainfall saturation outdoors this screening has been moved indoors to the Rehearsal Hall at Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre, 2302 Bridge Road.
  • Friday, September 24 at Trafalgar Park Community Centre (Diamond), 133 Rebecca Street
  • Saturday, September 25 at Glen Abbey Community Centre (Diamond), 1415 Third Line
  • Sunday, September 26 at Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre, 325 Reynolds
  • Friday, October 1 at River Oaks Community Centre (Diamond), 2400 Sixth Line
  • Saturday, October 2 at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre (Diamond), 1051 Glenashton Drive
  • Sunday, October 3 at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, 3070 Neyagawa Boulevard
  • Tickets are required for all attendees. In the event of rain, the screenings will take place at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre at 2301 Bridge Road.

Oakville, as we know it today, is rich in the history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Métis. From the lands of the Anishinabe to the Attawandaron, the Haudenosaunee, and the Métis, these lands surrounding the Great Lakes are steeped in Indigenous history. We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for being stewards of this traditional territory.

In addition to activities being offered by the town, throughout September, the “Every Child Matters” orange flag is being flown at half-mast at Town Hall from September 1-30 and during the week of September 27, Town Hall and the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts will be lit orange.

For more information about how the town is honouring the Truth and Reconciliation process, visit the Indigenous Culture and Community page.

Quotes

“The town is committed to reconciliation. While we reflect on the generational impact and trauma endured by Indigenous peoples for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I encourage residents to consider ways we can all work together to support an inclusive, diverse and equitable community. As we continue to address the calls to action, let us strive to be a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging.” – Mayor Rob Burton