National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

CALL TO ACTION 80:

We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal Peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 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.

 On June 3, 2021, a bill to establish September 30 as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation statutory holiday received Royal Assent. This day calls upon Canadians to take part in the renewal of the relationship between them, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. 
 
In July 2026, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Annual General Assembly chiefs passed an emergency resolution that calls upon the Canadian government to amend the Combating Hate Act (Bill C-9), or to create new stand-alone legislation to criminalize the public condoning, denial, justification, or minimization of Indian Residential School (IRS) denialism as a form of hate speech. 

Today, anti-Indigenous sentiment is becoming increasingly visible in media, online platforms, political rhetoric, and private conversations. Residential school denialism is on the rise, emboldening some citizens and political leaders to perpetuate anti-Indigenous racism and dismiss the ongoing impacts of colonial policies. 

Indian residential school denialism is not an academic debate, it's quite simply hate speech. It re-traumatizes survivors, harms entire communities, disrespects children who have never returned home, denies historical facts, and undermines truth and reconciliation.
— Terry Teegee, Regional Chief, British Columbia Assembly of First Nation

ETFO encourages its members to take time today, and every day, to learn about the truth and legacy of the Indian residential school system. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) Educators’ Portal offers age-appropriate classroom resources, videos, as well as webinars that support ongoing personal and professional learning. The  NCTR Archives contain digital exhibitions that share Survivors’ voices alongside historical records, documenting the Indian Residential school system, its lasting impacts, and ongoing efforts toward truth and reconciliation. 

ETFO also encourages members to access ETFO created resources:  Healing Conversations: A Learning Journey from the Heart, and Healing Conversations: A Collection of Activities for the Primary Classroom resources available in the FNMI Resources section of the ETFO secure website.