Reconciliation

Reconciliation

The Mayor, Council, and staff at the City of Terrace acknowledge that it is an honour to live, work, and play on the Laxyuubm Tsimshian, Kitsumkalum and Kitselas, toyaxsuut nuusm.

Emphasizing the importance of the City's relationships with First Nations and emphasizing the importance of truth and reconciliation form part of the City's strategic priorities.

 

Reconciliation Value Statement

On Monday, September 27, 2021, Council released a Reconciliation Value Statement:

The City of Terrace values the Indigenous peoples of the area and seeks to build strong relationships founded in trust and respect. We are committed to reconciliation, founded on understandings of truths experienced through colonialism, residential schools, and systemic racism.

This statement will serve as a foundation to guide future decision-making and action related to reconciliation.

 

Events

June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

 

 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an opportunity to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools and to honour those who were lost and the survivors, families, and communities who continue to grieve. This is a federal statutory holiday and as such, the City of Terrace offices will be closed in honour and recognition.

At the Monday, September 13, 2021, Council Meeting, Council made a resolution to purchase a flag for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and have it raised upon its arrival, and keep it raised until the end of October. The flag was raised on Tuesday, September 21, and lowered on October 31, 2021. The City’s flag policy has now been updated to include raising this flag for the entire month of September, which will be the procedure in 2022.

 

Orange Shirt Day

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day. Show your support by wearing orange at work, school, or when out in the community. Learn more about Orange Shirt Day here.

 

National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day

June is National Indigenous History Month, and Monday, June 21, is especially recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day. These celebrations should serve as a reminder that Indigenous history, people, and cultures should be recognized, celebrated, and acknowledged all year round.

 

Ongoing Reconciliation Activities

Council has undertaken several activities already in the ongoing process of reconciliation, including five Community to Community forums with numerous local First Nations; authorizing the planting of a commemorative tree in George Little Park recognizing the impacts of residential school and honouring survivors, participating in a Reconciliation Dialogue with Reconciliation Canada, attending the Reconciliation Walk in Vancouver, the Button Blanket Exercise, and various cultural workshops. Earlier this year, Council directed staff to develop an implementation strategy for Call to Action #57 from the truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Reconciliation is an ongoing process.

 

Explore the events calendar

 

Mental health supports available

Former Residential School students can call the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports available.

Indigenous peoples across Canada can also reach out to the Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

 

 

Listen, Read, Learn, and Honour

More than ever, both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and National Indigenous Peoples Day are opportunities to listen, read, learn, and, most importantly, honour the missing children, families left behind, and survivors of residential schools.

While some opportunities may remain unavailable at this time due to the pandemic, there are still countless ways to participate in embracing the many diverse Indigenous cultures in your own way.

Here are some ideas:

Start Your Personal Journey

The Orange Path is a movement that helps each person shape their path toward reconciliation. Start your journey here.

Take Action

Indigenous Corporate Training has put together a list of 10 things you can do to support Indigenous communities every day.

Visit (safely)

See how Indigenous Tourism BC suggests celebrating, including visiting Indigenous experiences whose doors are open. Please be sure to follow and respect all guidelines in place for travel from the provincial government as well as from the community you are visiting. HelloBC has some reminders for recreational travel. Explore Indigenous Tourism BC here.

Acknowledge

Use Whose Land or Native Land to learn about the territory where you live, work, or play.

Learn

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008–2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has become the permanent archive for the statements, documents, and other materials the Commission gathered, and its library and collections are the foundation for ongoing learning and research. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report details 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.

Read a concise history of the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada in this report from the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.

See more about what the Government of Canada is doing to advance reconciliation and renew the relationship with Indigenous peoples.

Discover some amazing Indigenous athletes.

Get Involved

Join, donate, or learn more about Terrace's Kermode Friendship Society.

Volunteer with Reconciliation Canada.

Watch

Explore titles in the National Film Board of Canada's list of Indigenous Cinema.

Discover Indigenous Made Films through Reel Canada.

Watch locally produced film Adaawk, about the Highway of Tears.

Watch The Secret Path.

Discover

Learn about the 60 languages belonging to 12 language families and where they are being used in Canada.

Map It

See a map of the approximate locations of First Nations in BC here and here.

Read

Check out this #IndigenousReads list for books for children and adults.

Here's a list of 48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools.

Follow

See what’s going on locally by following:

Follow Reconciliation Canada.

Follow the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Facebook page.

 

This list is by no means an exhaustive collection of resources—please let us know if there is something you’d like to see included. Email klautens@terrace.ca.