Algonquin College to Mark Inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Meaningful Ways in Person and Online

Posted on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021

What: September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. September 30 also marks the annual Orange Shirt Day.

Algonquin College will be marking the day in several ways in person and online for the entire college community. Members of public are invited to tune in to the virtual presentations to learn more.

When: September 30, 2021, All Day

Where: Online and in person at Algonquin College

Activities: Memorial Fire (all day) – Ishkodewan Indigenous courtyard
Those on Ottawa campus are invited to stop by the Memorial Fire at Ishkodewan, the College’s Indigenous courtyard located in the DARE District outside C Building. The fire-vessel in Ihkodewan, which means “there is fire,” will be burning all day. According to Ron (Degandus) McLester, Vice President of Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization, “the fire is both a physical, metaphorical and spiritual centre of many communities. We call upon this fire to warm our bodies, connect our minds and help to transport our prayers into the spirit world.”

Sunrise smudge on Facebook live at 7:00am
Log on to the Mamidosewin Centre Facebook page for the sunrise smudge. All are welcome to tune in. The Mamidosewin Centre, located on Ottawa campus, provides a variety of cultural programs and services to Indigenous learners attending Algonquin College.

Legacy of Hope exhibit – open to all on campus (located in front of Nawapon, the Indigenous Learning Commons in C Building, until October 7, 2021)
Algonquin College is pleased to welcome a national exhibit to its Ottawa campus to educate and inform its students. The Legacy of Hope Foundation’s display Generations Lost: Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools is open to members of the College community who are on campus are invited to view the exhibit at their convenience. (Read more about the exhibit). A teaser trailer is available here and a longer informational video can be found here.

Archeological field work in Nawapon (until October 1, 2021)
Indigenous artifacts discovered in the past decade at various locations around the National Capital Region have been brought to the Algonquin College campus for analyzing, cleaning, and recording as part of a larger project involving the Pikwakanagan First Nation and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. The project is being assisted by staff from the National Capital Commission and Public Services and Procurement Canada. (Read more about the work)

Podcast
Algonquin President and CEO Claude Brulé, Students’ Association President Emily Ferguson and Vice President Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization Ron (Degandus) McLester mark the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by sharing the everyday ways the College incorporates Truth and Reconciliation into its thinking and actions. Listen to the podcast here.

Children Treated to Outdoor Session of Indigenous Storytelling
A rapt audience of children from Algonquin College’s Early Learning Centre were recently treated to Indigenous storytelling as Ron (Deganadus) McLester, Vice President of Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization, shared Indigenous nature tales. Truth and Reconciliation starts with all children and this enlightening session was captured on video. Watch it here.

Interview with Ry Moran, founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Pembroke Campus’ Jamie Bramburger, Manager, Community and Student Affairs speaks with Moran, who recently participated in the College’s ongoing speaker series. Watch the video interview here.

Button Making Event with the Mamidosewin Centre
Students can drop into the Mamidosewin Centre to make a button in support of Orange Shirt Day. This is also happening in the hallway outside Savoir Faire in E Building on Sept. 29 between 11:30am – 1:00pm.

Indigenous Outdoor Blanket Exercise (Pembroke Campus)
The Blanket Exercise is based on using Indigenous methodologies and the goal is to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance.

Flag flying at half-staff on Algonquin College campuses
Flags on Algonquin College’s campuses will fly at half-mast to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day and pay tribute to the victims of Canadian Residential Schools –including survivors and the families of those who lost loved ones.

Other: To learn more, visit algonquincollege.com/tri for a list of news and ongoing Algonquin College Truth and Reconciliation initiatives.

Media requests and campus access is available by contacting the Algonquin College communications team.

Media Contacts:

Sara-Lynne Levine

Communications Officer

levines2@algonquincollege.com

Chris Lackner

Communications Manager

Algonquin College

lacknec@algonquincollege.com

 


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