In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, administrative offices will be closed, and there will be no classes or labs on Friday, September 29.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation responds to one of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which calls for a day to “honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”
September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day , which began in 2013 to honour Indigenous children forced to leave their families to attend residential schools. Orange t-shirts are available for purchase at the Campus Store, with proceeds going to a local Indigenous organization.
To help commemorate this day and to provide opportunities for learning, reflection and action, the following events will take place:
Events
Reconciliation, what does it mean to you?
September 27, 2023
10 a.m.
Loyola Colonnade
Stop by the Loyola Colonnade (across from Tim Horton’s) and share what reconciliation means to you. The Residence Life Multicultural Committee will display input from the SMU community on a display board of mini orange t-shirts.
Reflective Campus Walk
September 28, 2023
2-3 p.m.
Meet at the O’Donnell Hennessey Student Centre
All members of the Saint Mary’s community are invited to join Elder Debbie Eisan for a reflective walk around campus.
Moving from reconciliation to reconciliACTION: Engaging and supporting Indigenous communities
September 28, 2023
2-3 p.m.
Webinar
Join us for this panel discussion with Indigenous leaders and allies alike as we ask the question: where should organizations focus their resources and energy to ensure the longevity and health of those connections and start to create safer working environments for Indigenous employees?
Registration is free for anyone with a smu.ca email address.
The Marshall Lecture in Public Philosophy
September 28, 2023
7-8:30 p.m.
Scotiabank Conference Theatre
Undoing the Colonial Double-Bind: Interpretation and Justification in Aboriginal Law
Dr. Joshua Nichols (McGill University, Faculty of Law) is Métis from Treaty 8 Territory in British Columbia.
In this lecture, Dr. Nichols discusses the idea that Aboriginal law in Canada is caught in a colonial double-bind. On the one hand, the courts have acknowledged the pre-existing sovereignty of Indigenous peoples. On the other hand, the courts have accepted the sovereignty and legislative power of the Crown as against and over Indigenous peoples. By appealing to legal reasoning found within relevant case law, including the Quebec Court of Appeal’s recent reconsideration of Van der Peet in the C-92 Reference, Nichols aims to provide a way to deal with the double-bind using legal tools the courts already possess.
Read more about this year’s Marshall Lecture in Public Philosophy.
Resources and related links
The Patrick Power Library has developed a resource collection including books and videos related to Truth and Reconciliation. Be sure to also visit their Indigenous Studies Research Guide
More information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
