Truth & Reconciliation Week
About the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
“In June 2021, the House of Commons unanimously passed legislation to make September 30 a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools and to honour survivors, families and communities who continue to grieve for those who were lost.” (Gov’t of MB, 2021)
Brandon University is pleased to be partnering alongside local community groups, organizations and members in creating and supporting opportunities to gather, listen and learn on September 30 and throughout the week.
More details about community events, including the latest schedules, are available from the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council.
Truth & Reconciliation @ BU 2025
Campus Activities & Gatherings
Indigenous Art Speaker Series: Cheryl L’Hirondelle | Sept. 25
Cheryl L’Hirondelle is an award-winning singer/songwriter, music producer and artist whose Indigenous family roots are from Papaschase First Nation and Kikino Métis Settlement. Her talk will take place at 7 p.m., at the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art.
Beading Babes Craft Sale| Beaded Orange Shirt Pins| Sept. 26
The BU Beading Babes will be selling beaded orange shirt pins in honour of Truth & Reconciliation week outside the Indigenous Peoples’ Centre during the afternoon. The sale is tentatively planned to start at noon, but the pins sell out quickly, so feel free to drop by a little early or contact the Indigenous Peoples’ Centre (IPC) for updates.
Indigenous Art Speaker Series: KC Adams| Sept. 29
KC Adams is a registered Fisher River Cree Nation member living in Winnipeg, KC has had several solo and group exhibitions and residences and has been in three biennales. Twenty pieces of KC’s Cyborg Hybrid series are in the permanent collection of the National Art Gallery of Ottawa. Her talk will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Room 206 of Clark Hall.
Public Presentation: Dr. Eloy Terena | Sept. 29
Dr. Eloy Terena, Vice-Minister of Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and a BU ELAP Doctoral Visiting Student in 2019, will speak at the Gathering Space of the John E. Robbins Library from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The topic will be “Exploring Brazilian and Canadian Research Partnerships for the Betterment of Indigenous Peoples.”
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Sept. 30
Brandon University will be closed on Tuesday in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday. However, community events will be held on this day and throughout the week. Follow Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council for the latest updates.
Intention Ceremony | Oct. 3
An Intention Ceremony is a mindful practice that involves prayer and the offering of tobacco. The purpose of an Intention Ceremony is to offer tobacco to state what your intentions are for the upcoming season. What do you want to achieve/accomplish in this season? Indigenous Peoples’ Centre Anishinabek Knowledge Keeper Barb Blind will lead the Intention Ceremony with a smudge and tobacco offering. The gathering will take place at the Turtle Ceremonial Fire Pit between noon and 1:00 pm. We welcome all Deans, Faculty, staff, and students to join us in setting intentions in a good way for the upcoming academic year.
Survivors’ Flag | Sept. 26 – Oct. 05
The Survivors’ Flag will fly in front of Brandon University. The design of the flag incorporates symbols representing family, children, the spirits of children who never returned home and several more cultural elements. More information on the Survivors’ Flag and the symbolism represented in its design can be found at NCTR.ca/exhibits/survivors-flag.
Orange Shirt Activity | “Every Child Matters because…” | Sept. 29 – Oct. 03
Join the IPC in honouring Truth & Reconciliation week and complete your own orange shirt by sharing why Every Child Matters to you! You may put them up outside IPC or in your own area. A table with supplies will be located outside of IPC, or supply your own orange paper and print your own using these templates:
Wear Orange | Sept. 29 – Oct. 03
Every Child Matters – Orange Shirts available for purchase on campus and in the community. Proceeds from BU Campus Books orange shirt sales will be donated to Indigenous educational charities. BU will be closed on Orange Shirt Day, but you are encouraged to wear orange at any time throughout the week.
Bailey’s Cafe | Oct. 2 – 3 and 6 – 10
In honour of Truth & Reconciliation week, Bailey’s Cafe will offer two specials: Stew and Bannock; and Bannock and Berries, bannock topped with a house-made compote and drizzled with BU Honey.
Braid Symbol – Email Signature
Faculty and staff are encouraged to incorporate the braid symbol from Mamaawii-atooshke aakihkiwiin, the BU Strategic Plan, in their email signatures. The use of the braid in the Strategic Plan was inspired by Indigenous peoples and represents being stronger and more resilient together.
Connect with BU colleagues at Community Events
BU’s Diversity & Human Rights Office invites you to reach out if you would like to connect with others from across campus at various community events.
Contact Cheryl at flemingc@brandonu.ca.
Educator & Community Resources
LibGuides, Virtual Displays and more!
The BU John E. Robbins Library offers a collection of books and resources that raise awareness about Canada’s Residential School system. Learn more about resources available to you or for in the classroom by viewing the virtual displays below.
Orange Shirt Day Books
Research Connection & Indigenous Authors/Researchers Book Display
BU’s Centre for Aboriginal & Rural Education Studies invites visitors to borrow from their hosted collection of books. Contact Michelle Lam at cares@brandonu.ca for more details.
Pulling Together Manitoba Foundations Guide
Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community members, and Indigenous organizations across Manitoba have ‘pulled together” to work alongside Assiniboine College, Brandon University, and Campus Manitoba to adapt the Pulling Together Foundations Guide for western Manitoba.
Originally created in British Columbia as part of a larger Indigenization project, the Pulling Together: Manitoba Foundations Guide (Brandon Edition) will provide a starting point for those who want to learn more about Indigenous Peoples in the Prairie region of Canada and those who wish to begin their journey of understanding Canada’s colonial legacy.
The Pulling Together: Manitoba Foundations Guide (Brandon edition) is an open educational resource that can be found at http://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/pullingtogethermanitoba/.
