The West Vancouver Memorial Library will be open for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 to facilitate reflection, education, and awareness.
In June, the federal government passed legislation to make September 30 a statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Earlier this month, the Province of BC followed suit, recognizing it in the public sector.
This day provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn about and reflect on dark chapters in our country’s history and to commemorate residential school survivors, their families, and their communities—as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Call to Action 80. Since 2013, September 30 has been observed as Orange Shirt Day, a day that recognized the colonial legacy of residential schools. Orange Shirt Day recalls the experience of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad, who was stripped of her shiny new orange shirt on her first day attending residential school at six years old.
WVML remains committed to promoting truth and reconciliation in our community. The Library will be open on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to share events and resources with the aim of facilitating the reflection, education, and awareness that is called for on this day:
- Storytelling, Songs, and Crafts with Lisa Lewis | Ages 5–9
- Thursday, September 30, 11 – 11:45 a.m.
- Join Lisa Lewis as she reads her book Tsunaxen’s Journey and teaches traditional Squamish songs and crafts.
- Indigenous Cinema: Chaakapesh
- Thursday, September 30, 2 – 4:30 p.m.
- Written by Tomson Highway, composed by Matthew Ricketts, and performed by the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, the film tells the story of Chaakapesh, a trickster who sets out to stop the massacre of his people by white settlers through teaching these settlers to laugh.
- Relations First, with Ta7talíya Nahanee
- Tuesday, September 21, 7 – 8 p.m.
- Join your North Shore libraries for a virtual introduction to decolonizing your relations to the land, your work, and your community.
- Check out 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
- Browse our Residential Schools in Canada recommended resources
- Browse our Indigenous Peoples in Canada recommended resources
- Borrow a copy of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Media Enquiries
Sarah Barton-Bridges, Head of Communications
sbarton-bridges@westvanlibrary.ca
604.925.7407