The Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes communities are holding events and hosting moments for reflection to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Monday (September 30) is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is set aside to honour the children who didn’t return home from Canada’s former residential schools and to recognize survivors, their families and their communities. Declared as a statutory holiday by the federal government in 2021, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is also intended to provide space for people to think about the ongoing, intergenerational impacts of residential schools.
“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an important opportunity to reflect on our histories, learn about the injustices committed against Indigenous communities, and dedicate ourselves to contribute toward reconciliation,” said City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal in a media release. “As a community, we need to take meaningful action to fulfil our collective commitment to reconciliation. I encourage everyone to take part in the activities organized by groups across our community.”
The Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer Street North, 705-745-5382) is hosting activities for adults and teenagers, which include:
- Friday, September 27: Quilling with Sandra D. Moore
- Thursday, October 10: Just Get Over It: Exploring Stereotypes, Biases and Racism Between Indigenous Peoples and Settlers
- Thursday, October 17 through to Tuesday, October 22: Secret Path Film viewings
The library is also offering the following activities for children:
- Friday, September 27: PA day – Rabbit & Bear Paws – The Way with Chad Solomon
- Thursday, October 17: Indigenous Bilingual Story Time
The Peterborough Museum and Archives (300 Hunter Street East, 705-743-5180) is offering an “Every Child Matters” reading centre and children’s activity throughout the month of September. The museum is also providing Every Child Matters stickers, buttons, and bookmarks to encourage participation and learning through its National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities. For more information on the Peterborough Museum and Archives, visit peterborough.ca/museum.
The “Watershed” exhibition is on display at the Art Gallery of Peterborough (250 Crescent Street, 705-743-9179) until Sunday, October 6. The show features work by Mary Anne Barkhouse, John Boyle, Brad Copping, Liz Magor, Stan Olthuis, Amanda Strong, and Olivia Whetung.
At Artspace from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday (September 27), the launch and celebration takes place of the Maker Space Mural, “Niimikaage: she/he dances for a purpose,” by Anishinaabe artist Josh Morley (Miskopwagan Asin).
On Saturday (September 28) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Mnoominkewin Wild Rice Festival is presenting the fifth annual Mnoominkewin Gathering at Curve Lake First Nation’s Lime Kiln Park. The day of festivities celebrating mnoomin (wild rice) and community and food sovereignty includes a sunrise ceremony, traditional teachings, opportunities to plant, gather and “dance” mnoomin, music, mnoomin-themed meals, and a free screening of the 2024 documentary “Singing Back the Buffalo” courtesy of the ReFrame Film Festival. The Link bus will be providing free shuttle trips to the gathering. For more information and to register for the free event, visit www.mnoominkewin.com.
On Monday (September 30), the City of Peterborough will fly the “Every Child Matters” flag at city hall to officially mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the City of Kawartha Lakes will officially recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a flag-raising ceremony at city hall in Lindsay at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 27.
“Residents are invited to attend the flag-raising ceremony to reflect upon the painful history and lasting impacts of Canada’s residential school system and to reaffirm Kawartha Lakes’ commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,” the municipality noted in media release.
“Residents planning on attending the event are encouraged to wear orange to commemorate the devastating, continued impact of the residential school system, to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.”
Check out all Kawartha Lakes Public Library branches or displays featuring First Nation, Métis, and Inuit authors. The Bobcaygeon, Dalton, Fenelon Falls, Little Britain, Lindsay, Norland, and Woodville branches will be offering a free beaded necklace activity for kids, plus a free “Orange Shirt Day” magnet-making station for adults on Saturday (September 28). As well, the Lindsay branch will be hosting “Talking Circles for Truth and Reconciliation” for both children and adults at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively on Monday (September 30).
For more information on Indigenous books and resources available at the Kawartha Lakes Public Library, visit kawarthalakeslibrary.ca/indigenous.
On Monday (September 30) at 5 p.m., Truth and Reconciliation Community Bobcaygeon and the Mishkodeh Centre for Indigenous Knowledge will host a rain-or-shine remembrance ceremony at Bobcaygeon’s Boyd Museum (21 Canal Street East, 705-738-9482) featuring the Unity Drummers as well as Curve Lake First Nation Knowledge Keeper Anne Taylor and Community Educator Brittany Taylor. After the ceremony, attendees will carry memorial orange stones representing children who never returned home from residential schools to the new Bobcaygeon Beach Park Friendship Garden known as Gdinuhwendimin (“We are related”).
All events are free and open to the public, according to the municipality. “We encourage community members to attend and participate in any of these meaningful activities.”
Aside from attending events in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and other communities in the Kawarthas region, there are also a few other ways to observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
- Wear orange and take time to reflect and learn more about residential schools, the Indigenous children who never returned home, and the lived experiences of the survivors, their families, and communities.
- Participate in one of the free lunch-and-learn webinars offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation daily at 1 p.m. until Friday (September 27). Wednesday’s topic is “Impacts and addressing Indigenous identity fraud” with speakers Michelle Cyca and residential school survivor Dickie Yuzicapi, Thursday’s topic is “A community perspective of United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” with speakers Marilyn Buffalo and Megan Lewis, and Friday’s topic is “How do we address the barriers to reconciliation?” with Dr. Eva Jewell and residential school survivor Levinia Brown. For more information, visit trw-svr.nctr.ca/lunch-and-learns/.
- Tune into the 90-minute commemorative gathering “Remembering The Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.” Presented in English, French, and Plains Cree, the event will be broadcast live from Parliament Hill in Ottawa starting at 3 p.m. on Monday (September 30). You can watch on APTN, APTN Languages, and on all CBC broadcast and streaming platforms, as well as participating television and radio stations across the country.
