If you are situated in Canada, you know that September 30th is known as Orange Shirt day. As of June 2021, September 30th has become National Truth and Reconciliation day.

Orange Shirt Day was created to show support, acknowledgment, and honour toward residential school survivors. Before starting the Bachelors of Education program, my participation in Orange Shirt Day only consisted of wearing an orange shirt. However, this year, being a part of Education 394, allowed me to experience a more empowering way of honouring residential school survivors. We attended a fire circle with special guests from the UHNBC drumming group.

During this empowering experience, we learned so many things. Having the drummers there allowed us to learn about the importance of community. It taught us that in order to overcome traumatic experiences, we need to allow ourselves to fall into the arms of our community and allow ourselves to get healed by others. Many people that were a part of the circle shared their personal stories and through those stories, we learned that having drumming and fire circles provide an insight into the healing that can be welcomed through an experience like this.

This experience was incredibly moving and emotional to most of the participants and especially me. It allowed me to participate in something that was empowering and informative. Connecting with local Indigenous peoples and hearing their stories really resonated with me and helped me realize the impact colonialism has had on the Indigenous communities. These stories and connections made the experience more personal and eye-opening to the reconciliation that needs to occur in order to honour the survivors of residential schools. The experience solidified the sense of community that is present in the education program and allowed me to realize the support group that is behind us all through this program.

our community

After participating in this intimate activity, I am excited to incorporate the power behind holding fire circles and establishing a sense of community within the classroom. I feel that experiencing such a powerful fire circle and establishing a better understanding of truth and reconciliation will help me in the future to incorporate Indigenous concepts within the classroom and encourage my students to practice reconciliation in their daily lives.

References

  • Canada, Government of Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. “Understanding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.” Www.rcaanc-Cirnac.gc.ca, 8 Sept. 2021, www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1631130192216/1631130220404.
  • “Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.” Toronto Metropolitan University, www.torontomu.ca/equity/resources/discourse-docs/truth-and-reconciliation-in-canada/#:~:text=What%20is%20Truth%20and%20Reconciliation%3F%20Truth%20and%20Reconciliation. Accessed 26 Oct. 2022.