Message from Ramata Tarawally, Director, Community Wellness
Dear Trinity College Students:
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. This day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Given the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are sharing diverse ways for you to actively engage on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
What can I do?
Reconciliation is the responsibility of every person living in Canada and member of the University of Toronto community. It means acknowledging the past and ensuring history never repeats itself by respecting Indigenous treaties and rights. It means letting go of negative perceptions and stereotypes to work towards solidarity. Please take time to reflect on how you can work towards reconciliation in your own life and create your own personal reconciliation plan. Below we have listed some options for you to consider.
Attend the University of Toronto Orange Shirt Day Event
Honour the experiences of residential school survivors and indigenous peoples at a University-wide event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in the Great Hall at Hart House. Students, librarians, faculty members, and staff can register to attend this event in person or watch the live stream. The commemoration will include a panel discussion featuring three indigenous speakers – Rochelle Allan, Charlotte Logan and Magean Lukaniec.
For those who registered to attend in person event, meet with Ramata Tarawally and Paige Souter at 9:45 am in the Trinity Quad to head over to Hart House as a collective group.
Wear Orange
All members of the university community—and people across Canada—are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 30 in the spirit of reconciliation. Doing so affirms that “Every Child Matters.”
The University of Toronto Bookstore, in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, has Orange Shirt Day shirts available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales of the shirts are being directed to Indigenous community organizations—no proceeds will go to the U of T Bookstore or to the University of Toronto.
Drop by the Abbott Room, St. Hilda’s College
The Trinity Wellness Team will be hosting a live broadcast of the U of T Orange Shirt Day event in the Abbott Room. Students are encouraged to drop-in and watch the event with the Wellness Team: Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, Abbott Room, St. Hilda’s College.
We encourage you to come help build our community commitment for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Our goal is to go beyond acknowledgement and as a community shift towards an active response to the TRC.
Participate in Mindful Reflection with Trinity
Join Paige Souter (Humphrys Chaplain), Ramata Tarawally (Director, Community Wellness) and Vaishali Sharma (Community Wellness Coordinator), on a mindful walk through Victoria University’s Indigenous Healing Garden: Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 3:00 pm to 4 pm. Please meet in the Trinity Quad and we will walk over to the Healing Garden at 3:10 pm.
Educate Yourself
Given that reconciliation is the responsibility of every person here at Trinity, it is important for folks to educate themselves. Please find below some additional educational resources.
- City of Toronto National Day for Truth and Reconciliation information page
- Learn about Orange Shirt Day
- Government of Canada National Day for Truth and Reconciliation information page
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Reports
All flags on the U of T campus, including Trinity College, will be lowered to half-mast on September 30.
Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.
