By: Shelley Cardinal, Director, Indigenous Relations
On September 29, 2020, Canada's Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault tabled a new bill proposing that Orange Shirt Day become a national statutory holiday and officially be named the "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.”
On May 28, 2021, the day after 215 children's bodies were discovered in an unmarked cemetery on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the bill passed in the House of Commons by unanimous consent.
For the Canadian Red Cross, acknowledging the new national holiday is more than a commitment to reconciliation, it is an opportunity for all of us to deepen our understanding of the events and experiences that contribute towards disparities in the lives of Indigenous Peoples and deepen our understanding of Indigenous cultural strength.
The work of the Canadian Red Cross is to help people in times of need and support them in strengthening their resilience. One of our roles is to better understand the history of harm that has created “structural vulnerability.” This structural vulnerability in Indigenous communities is the result of historical and ongoing harm and violence. Many Indigenous people, families, and communities have experienced - and continue to experience - too many traumatic events.
In communication with Tom Jackson, a long-standing champion of the Canadian Red Cross, and humanitarian, he expressed:
“In the world of Truth and Reconciliation, we will not find reconciliation until we find truth. The truth may be painful, but pain is part of the process of the sacred healing journey. Although the work is difficult, it will directly contribute to the health and well-being of the present and future generations. Sometimes I pray for change, and it helps me get through the darkness. But I’m not sure if just my hope helps others.”
Tom Jackson asked me to share his song “Lost Souls” with you:
Please find below some of the many resources to deepen your learning on this important day.