September 9, 2022
West Vancouver, B.C.— The West Vancouver Memorial Library offers events, resources, and educational opportunities for community members to observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. WVML will be open on September 30 (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for public education.
Leading up to September 30, book bundles curated by WVML librarians will be available to borrow. Each bundle contains a bookmark and one book each on Truth, Reconciliation, and Indigenous Fiction. On Tuesday, September 27, community members are invited to view the film Walking with Plants from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The screening will be followed by a community discussion about the film. On Thursday, September 29 from 7 to 8 p.m., art enthusiasts can tune into a conversation between Kwakwaka’wakw and Tlingit artist Gigaemi Kukwits and West Vancouver Art Museum’s Administrator and Curator Hilary Letwin.
WVML will remain open on Friday, September 30 for reflection, education, and awareness. That day, children are invited to Storytelling, Songs, and Crafts from 11 to 11:45 a.m. with Squamish Nation author Lisa Lewis. T’sou-ke Elder Jeff Welch and WVML’s former Climate Writer in Residence, Dene author Katłįà Lafferty, will be offering a virtual program on Cedar Harvesting from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Zoom. They will teach participants about the cultural significance of cedar and how to harvest and prepare cedar bark, while sharing their thoughts on reconciliation. More resources for observing this day are listed below.
Folks are invited to return on Tuesday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a Garden Naming Ceremony and refreshments with Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard ‘Buddy’ Joseph of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George has honoured our community demonstration garden with a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim name.
Reading & Watching
- Borrow a curated Truth & Reconciliation book bundle! Each bundle contains one book on Truth, Reconciliation, and Indigenous Fiction.
- Browse our Honouring Truth and Reconciliation booklist
- Browse our Indigenous Fiction booklist
- Check out an Indigenous Film on DVD
- Check out our recommended reading lists for Kindergarten – Grade 2, Grades 3 – 5, and Grades 6 – 12
- Read an ebook or listen to an audiobook from this Indigenous Authors OverDrive list
- Read an ebook or listen to an audiobook from this Indigenous Authors for Kids OverDrive list
- Stream an Indigenous film on Kanopy
Resources & More
- Browse our Residential Schools in Canada recommended resources
- Check out our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recommended resource page
- Browse our Indigenous Peoples in Canada recommended resources
- Borrow a copy of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada