On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour residential school survivors, their families and their communities, and we remember the children who did not make it home.
The Ecology Action Centre stands in solidarity with Indigenous land defenders across Turtle Island, and with all those who are working to restore the cultural knowledge that was ripped away by residential schools. We are with you and we pledge our support.
Find resources and ways to take action below.
Actions
- Check out Beyond 94 to see the progress that Canada is making on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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Write to your MP or MLA to advocate for the full implementation of all the TRC Calls to Action and the MMIWG Calls for Justice.
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Donate to organizations that help residential school survivors. Some examples of organizations you can give to are the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society, Legacy of Hope Foundation, the Orange Shirt Foundation, the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Reconciliation Canada and True North Aid.
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Support Indigenous land defenders who are standing up for the lands and waters.
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Learn the Mi’kmaw name for where you live: https://placenames.mapdev.ca/
Resources
Choose a few resources from this list and spend some time with them:
Things to read:
Things to watch:
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One of these documentaries or short films from the National Film Board
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When We Were Alone - reading of a children’s book
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One of several relevant documentaries available from CBC
Things to listen To:
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This conversation between Naomi Klein and the Manuel family about the connection between stolen children and stolen land: https://theintercept.com/2021/06/16/intercepted-mass-grave-kamloops-residential-school/
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Podcasts:
As an environmental movement, when we reflect on the horror that was Canada’s Indian Residential School System, it is important to remember the connection between stolen children and stolen land. Canada’s policy of cultural genocide was an intentional strategy to break down Indigenous nations’ governance and social structures in order to remove the barriers to exploiting the land for natural resources. This continues today, as fossil fuel projects, logging operations and mines continue to be developed on unceded territories across Turtle Island.
This profit-driven exploitation of stolen land is the root cause of the climate and biodiversity crises we are experiencing today. Our struggles are deeply interconnected.