You may have noticed a gap in your schedule on SOLUS for Sept. 30. At first glance, it might seem like an opportunity to get some extra sleep and catch up on—or procrastinate—your readings. In reality, that emptiness is a call to action.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation builds on what was previously known as Orange Shirt Day. It’s a response to Call to Action 80 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The purpose of this federal statutory holiday is to honour the victims and survivors of residential schools—a system for cultural genocide—during the time of year children were removed from their homes.
Queen’s has been steeped in settler colonialism and violence since its inception in 1841. It’s now our collective responsibility to continuously reflect on, acknowledge, and call out the effects of our university’s history while taking meaningful strides towards reconciliation.
As a post-secondary institution, we have an important role to play as leaders in education. Queen’s Chancellor Emeritus, the Honourable Murray Sinclair said it best, “education is what got us into this mess […] but education is the key to reconciliation.”
I’m still navigating how this can be done in a meaningful way at Queen’s. My current thinking leads me to wonder how we could address our own systems by asking the right questions. We have world-class researchers and brilliant students who could be empowered to question our own structures. For instance, what does it mean to have a two-row wampum belt, that represents mutual respect, at Senate, positioned beside a flag with a crown that signifies power and authority?
Our ways of doing things at Queen’s are so ingrained in our culture that change comes slowly, even when there’s a widespread agreement and .
Queen’s is walking this path of critical change. I see us heading in the right direction, but I feel frustrated that we started too late and we’re not moving quickly enough.
I’m a fast walker. I often pop into the bike lane to others heading down University Ave. The same goes for my pace of work—enthusiastically pushing for shifts in policy and process has been my MO.
When I think about how we can be responsible leaders in truth and reconciliation, I keep coming back to impact. So maybe I need to adjust my mindset, to be okay with a slower pace if it means more people will us on this journey
This Monday, at 1:30 p.m., when speeches begin on the Agnes Benidickson Field, I’ll be the first student to ever speak at the Office of Indigenous Initiatives Truth & Reconciliation program. I call on you to show up so we can slow down, reflect together, and commit ourselves to reconciliation.
Next year, when the SOLUS elves remove classes from Sept. 30 on our schedules, I hope they can take the next meaningful step forward. I want our timetable to include the Sacred Fire because our reconciliation journey requires more than just a day off. I want that silence to scream at us that every child matters.
At your service,
Niki
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Mary
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation builds on what was previously known as Orange Shirt Day. << i think it's still Orange Shirt Day. Both are true.