Since 2021, the federal government has designated September 30 as National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR). This day is also known as Orange Shirt Day.
Across Canada, September 30 is a public holiday. Quebec has not added the day to its list of official holidays. However, some companies have decided to add it to the list of holidays in their human resources management policies.
The fact that you are on this page already deserves thanks and congratulations for participating in the reconciliation effort. Mikwetc!
Discussion activity based on video testimonials
Preparing for the activity:
1. To make the activity more dynamic, we recommend selecting one of the four testimonials presented in this kit.
Pauline St-Onge
Simon Awashish
Oscar Kitsabish
Madeleine Basile
The testimonials are all different, so we recommend watching them all to select the one or ones that you feel are most suitable for your colleagues.
2. We recommend that you prepare a short introduction on the topic. Depending on your location, specify which Indigenous territory you are in to create geographical proximity. Feel free to mention the nearest Indigenous communities.
The majority of Quebec's territory is on what is commonly referred to as “unceded lands,” meaning that these are traditional Indigenous territories whose territorial rights have never been officially surrendered or transferred to the Crown through a treaty or agreement with Indigenous peoples.
To support this recognition, several formulations are used depending on where you are. We suggest the following wording: “I would like to begin by respectfully acknowledging that we are gathered on unceded territory marked by a thousand years of Indigenous presence.”
If you know the ancestral territory on which you are gathered, you can also specify it, but be sure to name all the Nations affected if you are in a context of overlapping territories.
See the Quebec FNI Map page.
Activity schedule 1 - Introduction (approximately 5 min)
a. Remind participants that this activity is an opportunity to take collective responsibility, learn about untold history, and that the goal is not to make anyone feel guilty.
b. If your workplace has taken specific actions, this is a good time to share them with the group.
c. If your workplace wishes to take/choose specific actions, this is a good time to survey the group.
d. Finally, take the time to display the mental health support services offered by the Government of Canada (printable visual at the bottom of the page).
2 - Start viewing a testimonial (4 to 5 min/video)
3 - Discussion period
Feel free to share your own feelings on the subject and be transparent about your level of knowledge to put everyone at ease. We have provided some suggested questions below to inspire you. Adapt this step to make these discussions an enriching experience for you and your team.
4- Other possible actions
- Post a photo of your class on your favorite platform using the hashtags #JNVROnikam and #NDTR
- Encourage team members with children to participate in the family activity.
Suggested questions after viewing
- After hearing the testimonial, how do I feel?
- What did I learn about the reality of residential schools? Does it match my preconceived notions?
- Which part of the testimonial touched me the most?
- Was there a moment that particularly resonated with me?
In general
- What does the word “reconciliation” mean? What is your definition of reconciliation?
- What can we do to contribute more to reconciliation?
Cultural discovery activity
In recent decades, the indigenous artistic and cultural ecosystem has grown significantly, offering numerous ways to appreciate indigenous cultures in all their contemporary forms.
Music, literature, cinema—Indigenous talent is expressed everywhere, allowing us to get to know each other better and break down barriers.
Preparing for the activity
1. Browse through the content we have selected for you in the “Let's familiarize” tab. Focus on the “Listening,” “Watching,” and “Reading” sections.
“Listening” - allows you to discover a selection of contemporary Indigenous music artists.
“Watching” - allows you to discover feature films about the Indigenous world, but also gives you access to shorter content on our Indigenous partners' platforms.
“Reading” - offers you a selection of books by Indigenous authors.
2. Select one or more items.
Performing the activity
1. Introduction Thank your colleagues for their attendance and participation.
Depending on your location, specify which Indigenous territory you are in to create a sense of geographical proximity. Feel free to mention the nearest Indigenous communities.
The majority of Quebec's territory is on what is commonly referred to as “unceded lands,” meaning that these are traditional Indigenous territories whose territorial rights have never been officially surrendered or transferred to the Crown through a treaty or agreement with Indigenous peoples. To support this recognition, several formulations are used depending on where you are.
We suggest the following formulation: “I would like to begin by respectfully acknowledging that we are gathered on unceded territory marked by a thousand-year presence of Indigenous peoples.”
If you know the ancestral territory on which you are gathered, you can also specify this, but be sure to name all the Nations if you are in a context of overlapping territories.
Visit the page Map : First Nation and Inuit in Quebec.
2. Dissemination
3. Sharing and discussion period
Questions:
- Have you ever listened to Indigenous music?
Have you ever read a book by an Indigenous author?
Have you ever seen a film made by or about Indigenous people?
How did you find the music? How would you describe the style? Does it remind you of any artists you know?
Did it make you want to discover other content?
4. Tell your colleagues that cultural and artistic content is available by scanning the QR code.
Links to cultural content
QR code - Nikanik - Main page
