Share 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on FacebookShare 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on TwitterShare 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on LinkedinEmail 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation link
Thank you for taking part in the 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We encourage you to continue to explore ways to put reconciliation into action.
Sings Many Songs Women (Pearl White Quills, Deb Green and Noreen Demeria) sang for the opening of the healing garden at the Alberta Children's Hospital, a place of refuge for patients, staff and physicians. Photo courtesy of Albert Woo
Wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the harm done to residential school students and their families, and shows a commitment to the principle that every child matters. By acknowledging and understanding the truth of the past, we can take steps to move forward towards reconciliation.
AHS has been commemorating Orange Shirt Day on September 30 for many years, to recognize the history and truthful impacts of residential schools in Alberta. The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 after a Residential School Survivor spoke about having the orange shirt her grandmother bought for her taken away on her first day of school when she was 6 years old. Read her story here.
In 2021, Orange Shirt Day became the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. AHS will be commemorating the day with reflective sessions on Thursday, September 29. (Watch the recorded presentations here.) We encourage everyone to honour September 30 as a day of personal reflection or to take part in events in your community.
*Please note: this page is moderated and any inappropriate or disrespectful content will be edited and/or removed.
Sings Many Songs Women (Pearl White Quills, Deb Green and Noreen Demeria) sang for the opening of the healing garden at the Alberta Children's Hospital, a place of refuge for patients, staff and physicians. Photo courtesy of Albert Woo
Wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the harm done to residential school students and their families, and shows a commitment to the principle that every child matters. By acknowledging and understanding the truth of the past, we can take steps to move forward towards reconciliation.
AHS has been commemorating Orange Shirt Day on September 30 for many years, to recognize the history and truthful impacts of residential schools in Alberta. The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 after a Residential School Survivor spoke about having the orange shirt her grandmother bought for her taken away on her first day of school when she was 6 years old. Read her story here.
In 2021, Orange Shirt Day became the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. AHS will be commemorating the day with reflective sessions on Thursday, September 29. (Watch the recorded presentations here.) We encourage everyone to honour September 30 as a day of personal reflection or to take part in events in your community.
*Please note: this page is moderated and any inappropriate or disrespectful content will be edited and/or removed.
Share A Truth and Reconciliation Journey on FacebookShare A Truth and Reconciliation Journey on TwitterShare A Truth and Reconciliation Journey on LinkedinEmail A Truth and Reconciliation Journey link
In the days leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we encourage you to put reconciliation into action. The AHS Indigenous Wellness Core has compiled a list of ideas to support your personal journey which we will be sharing throughout the month of September. Feel free to add to the list by sharing your ideas.
Share 1 - Get your Orange Shirt on FacebookShare 1 - Get your Orange Shirt on TwitterShare 1 - Get your Orange Shirt on LinkedinEmail 1 - Get your Orange Shirt link
To show your support, plan to wear orange and get your shirt. Learn why we wear orange by visiting the Orange Shirt Society.
Post a photo of yourself, your friends and family or your colleagues honouring Orange Shirt Day below.
Watch the film Unforgottenand go through resource toolkit.
Warning: This is a very powerful film that may trigger an emotional response in many. Please reach out for support if you need to. The Hope For Wellness Helpline is available 24-hours a day at 1-855-242-3310.
Share 3 - Do some local research on FacebookShare 3 - Do some local research on TwitterShare 3 - Do some local research on LinkedinEmail 3 - Do some local research link
Do your research. Look into the history of your local area. Which Indigenous communities are in your local area? Make a direct connection with a local Indigenous organization or Indigenous community.
Share 5 - Talk to your kids about reconciliation on FacebookShare 5 - Talk to your kids about reconciliation on TwitterShare 5 - Talk to your kids about reconciliation on LinkedinEmail 5 - Talk to your kids about reconciliation link
Watch this video with your kids, and then have a conversation about reconciliation. Tell us what they teach you.
Share 6 - Talk to your kids about Allyship on FacebookShare 6 - Talk to your kids about Allyship on TwitterShare 6 - Talk to your kids about Allyship on LinkedinEmail 6 - Talk to your kids about Allyship link
Watch this video with your kids, and then have a conversation about how to be an ally to Indigenous Peoples. Share your ideas.
Share 7 - The Blanket Exercise on FacebookShare 7 - The Blanket Exercise on TwitterShare 7 - The Blanket Exercise on LinkedinEmail 7 - The Blanket Exercise link
Share 8 - Make a plan on FacebookShare 8 - Make a plan on TwitterShare 8 - Make a plan on LinkedinEmail 8 - Make a plan link
Make a plan to honour National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th. Tell us how you plan to commemorate the day, and share any community events with others here.
Click here to play video
We are Strong - Métis Youth write inspiring song
“They just told me to write what’s relevant to what I’m feeling,” says Alexia Calliou, 10, one of a group of youth from the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement in Alberta who shared their experiences and feelings in the song ‘We Are Strong.’
With the help of N’we Jinan Artists and a grant from the AHS Honouring Life program, the group then turned it into a music video.
Honouring Life is an Indigenous life promotion and suicide prevention program developed to support First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth.
With funding administered by the AHS Indigenous Wellness Core, a vision of Honouring Life is that Indigenous youth in Alberta experience life with hope, meaning, belonging, and purpose. View the music video here: https://youtu.be/7iIFC2QS-yc
Fishing Lake Métis Settlement in Cree, Packechawanis, is one of the original 12 colonies of the Métis people in Alberta, and one of the eight that now remain.
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Residential Schools
The Indigenous Wellness Core walks us through the historical truth of the impacts of Residential Schools in Canada, that we continue to witness today. AHS strives to uphold our commitment to the TRC Recommendations for Health by providing education resources.
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"Indian Hospitals" in Alberta and Canada
The Indigenous Wellness Core walks us through the historical truth of “Indian Hospitals” in Alberta and Canada. AHS strives to uphold our commitment to the TRC Recommendations for Health by providing education resources.
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Astowaipi - Walking Together
This is a story of health planning and co-design in action with Calgary Zone Indigenous communities. Harley and Penny share their journey of the process which is centered on trust, relationship building, shared vision and collaboration. Grounded in ceremony, sacred stories, and a commitment to co-design, they connect with the diversity of urban and rural Indigenous communities to build the Calgary Zone Indigenous Health Action Plan.
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There is hope - Jeraldine's story
This story was gifted to us by Jeraldine, a woman who has discovered strength and healing by celebrating her Indigenous culture.
Having persevered through dark days, she has entered a new season in her life.
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2021 Discussion: Kimmapiitssini - The Meaning of Empathy
After an exclusive screening of her film, Kímmapiitssini – The Meaning of Empathy in 2022, filmmaker Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and her mother, Dr. Esther Tailfeathers discussed the change brought by community members with substance-use disorder, first responders and medical professionals as they strive for harm reduction in the Kainai First Nation.