Oakville marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with many activities

The City of Oakville offers several ways to celebrate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

Here are some of the events open to the community:

•Wear an Orange Shirt to raise awareness of the intergenerational impact and trauma residential schools have had on Indigenous communities and donate to the Orange Shirt Society to support their work in commemorating the residential school experience and promoting of reconciliation.

• Join a march that begins at the first orange crosswalk in Oakville at the intersection of Thomas and Church Streets on Sunday, September 25 at 1:30 p.m.

• Watch Indigenous films on the grounds of the Oakville Museum on September 23 from 6 to 11 p.m. The evening, presented in association with Indigenous community leaders, the Oakville Public Library (OPL), and other community partners, will feature “Honour to Sen. Murray Sinclair” and “Hi-Ho Mistahey!” Prior to the film, Grandmother’s Voice and Our Kids Network will lead a beadwork activity in the Coach House while the BPO will share book recommendations based on themes from the films.

•Join Christine Friday as she explores her Anishinabek roots, first with the film Path Without End, a 10-minute documentary dance film as the Friday family reclaim their power from the Shingwauk residential school and speak their truth about their land traditional tribal family hunt on Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. For free tickets to the in-person event or live event, visit centreoakville.ca.

• Visit the Oakville Orange Crosswalk at Thomas and Church Streets, which was painted orange in honor of the children of the residential school system and see the utility cabinet cover in a design by the Moccasin Identifier Project by four moccasins representative of the four language groups in Ontario.

• Enjoy a walk along the Moccasin Trails and explore the history of the lands from an Aboriginal perspective. Follow the Moccasin Trails signs along Bronte Creek Heritage Trail beginning at Rebecca Street and Mississaga Street and along Sixteen Mile Creek Inner Valley to Dundas Street West in Lions Valley.

• Visit Tannery Park and explore the First Nations History Wall and Moccasin Identifier, which was built to raise awareness of significant cultural and historical sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Métis and indigenous.

• Make a traditional bagpipe bracelet with Indigenous artist Naomi Smith in a virtual workshop on Saturday, October 1 from 2-4 p.m. Register on opl.ca.

•Celebrate Indigenous culture and community with Planting Our Seeds: Resurgence of Indigenous Voices from October 5 to November 30. More details to come.

In addition to the activities, the orange Every Child Matters flag will fly at City Hall the week of September 26 and will be lowered on September 30. City Hall and downtown Oakville will also be lit orange during the week of September 26.

For more activities and information, visit the Indigenous Culture and Community page.

“As we reflect, remember and honor the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I encourage residents to participate and participate activities to learn about and support Indigenous communities,” said Mayor Rob Burton.

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