National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognized at MITT

Originally posted: September 26, 2022

Events announced on campus for Reconciliation Week

This week, MITT will host events for Reconciliation Week leading up to Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. This day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

Rhonda Klippenstein, Manager of Indigenous Initiatives and Community Development and Ray Karasevich, MITT President and CEO share more about Reconciliation Week and MITT’s year-round commitment to reconciliation in the video below. 

Reconciliation Week events at MITT

Tuesday, September 27
Indigenous Students Lunch with the President (invite only)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Henlow Campus

Tipi Teachings and Tipi Erecting
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Henlow Campus

Wednesday, September 28
Pipe Ceremony and Sacred Fire lighting
10 a.m.
Henlow Campus
This event will include the lighting of a sacred fire, which will burn throughout the remainder of the day.

Guest Speaker – Sherry Gott, residential school survivor
11:30 a.m.
Henlow Campus

Sherry is a member of Sapotewayak Cree Nation and a survivor of the residential school system, where she attended Guy Hill Residential School and Mackay Residential School. Sherry was in and out of the system for approximately 10 years. 

Walking the path to healing has been difficult at times due to the loss of connection to the land and culture. However, she has found ways to get the healing she needed. The sound of the drum many years ago helped her heal.

Despite all her struggles she managed to pursue her education. She graduated with a bachelor of social work degree and in 2019 she graduated with her master’s degree in social work. She has worked in various capacities in educational and social services.

Thursday, September 29
Orange Shirt Day
All MITT campuses
MITT will be observing Orange Shirt Day on September 29 while staff and students are on campus. Wear your shirt and share your pictures by tagging @MITTCanada in Instagram posts.

Friday, September 30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
All MITT campuses closed

Events and education for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

MITT will be closed on Friday, September 30. we encourage students and staff to take part in other events taking place throughout the city.

These include:

• The Manitoba Museum will feature special all-day programming in galleries throughout the facility. Admission to the Museum will be free on Friday the 30^th, as well as through the weekend, with activities available including videos from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), self-guided tours through exhibits focusing on the residential school system, and the opportunity for Manitobans to commit to taking action for reconciliation.
• The Winnipeg Art Gallery will feature the NCTR’s nationwide broadcast at Noon, followed by the launch of Lessons in Legitimacy: Colonialism, Capitalism, and the Rise of State Schooling in British Columbia. The book, written by Dr. Sean Carleton, looks at the history of residential schools and other experiences of Indigenous students throughout history.
• The Children’s Museum will feature special programming between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., including Metis workshops on moccasins and paper vests. Activities also feature sessions with the Louis Riel Institute. Admission is free for these events.
• The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will offer free admission for the day. Project of Heart, an inquiry-based, hands-on collaborative, inter-generational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Indigenous people in Canada will be available in the Stuart Clark Garden of Contemplation.

Additional learning opportunities are available to explore on September 30 and throughout the year:

Perceptions on Truth and Reconciliation Series – The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has published a variety of pieces as part of this important series. Their purpose, as stated by NCTR, is to, “bridge the knowledge gap between Western and Indigenous approaches to addressing historical and ongoing injustices

First Nations in Canada – Published by the Government of Canada, this educational resource was assembled for use by Canadians of all ages.

Indigenous Languages in Canada – Learn about the approximately 70 distinct Indigenous languages in Canada and efforts to revitalize them for sure by future generations.

Beyond 94 Truth and Reconciliation in Canada – Developed by the CBC, this website outlines the 94 Calls to Action and provides ongoing analysis of the progress toward each one.

Indigenous Cinema – Explore the National Film Board of Canada’s online collection of Indigenous-made films, including a new feature on Thomson Highway produced earlier this year.

Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba website – The Treaties between First Nations and the Crown are sacred agreements, witnessed by the Creator and intended to create an evergreen-kinship relationship. These Treaties are an integral part of Manitoba’s historical and contemporary landscape and act as a binding agent between us all. For that reason, we are all part of this treaty relationship.