Reflect on truth and reconciliation this Orange Shirt Day

Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The observance shines a light on the injustice Indigenous children experienced at residential schools.

The University of Calgary’s Office of Indigenous Engagement and the Calgary Public Library have once again come together to mark the day with meaningful programming on Friday, Sept. 29, dedicated to increasing awareness, opening discussions and bringing people together in the spirit of reconciliation.

The afternoon will kick off with a presentation from Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux and former chief of Cowessess First Nation. Delorme’s presentation is titled, “What We Inherited and Better Understanding Our Role in Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action,” and focuses on analyzing the role individuals and communities play in ensuring the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action are implemented. The event will be held in the Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall in UCalgary’s Rozsa Centre.

Hosted by Dr. Shawna Cunningham, PhD, acting vice-provost (Indigenous Engagement), the afternoon presentation will also feature special remarks from UCalgary President Ed McCauley and CPL CEO Sarah Meilleur, BA’01. Piikani Elder Reg Crowshoe, Hon. LLD’01, will open and close the event in a good way.

A screening of the film Beans, directed by Tracey Deer, will be held in the evening at the Central Library. Based on true events, Beans is a coming-of-age story that follows a Mohawk girl during the 1990 resistance at Kanehsatà:ke, otherwise known as the Oka Crisis. The 78-day standoff drew nationwide attention as two Mohawk communities resisted the Sûreté du Québec, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces in protest of a planned golf course expansion into a forest and burial ground. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2020 and was honoured as one of TIFF’s Top 10 Canadian films and received the TIFF Emerging Talent Award and TIFF's Rising Star. The film also won the Crystal Bear in the Generation Section at Berlinale 2020.

Following the screening will be a discussion with Deer; Kelli Morning Bull, Indigenous services design lead at CPL; and Autumn Eaglespeaker, co-founder and curator of the Authentically Indigenous Craft Market. Special remarks will be provided by Cunningham and Meilleur.

Both events can be attended in-person and online. Canadians are encouraged to honour survivors by wearing orange, learning about residential schools, and using #orangeshirtday and #everychildmatters on social media.

Participating in Orange Shirt Day is an integral part of UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, ii’ taa’poh’to’p, which centres truth and reconciliation with the intent of constructing sincere, reciprocal and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities.

Event details:

Cadmus Delorme Presentation
Sept. 29 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre, UCalgary, and livestreamed

Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux and former chief of Cowessess First Nation, shares his presentation, “What We Inherited and Better Understanding Our Role in Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.” | Register to attend the event in person | Register to attend the event online

Film Screening of Beans
Sept. 29 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Central Library and livestreamed

Join us for a free viewing and discussion of the film Beans, directed by Tracey Deer, with special remarks from Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur, BA’01, and Dr. Shawna Cunningham, PhD, UCalgary's acting vice-provost (Indigenous Engagement). | Register to attend the event in person | Register to attend the event online