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National Truth and Reconciliation Day
Thursday, September 30 was Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, created with the aim of honouring all those who have been affected by Canada’s residential school system. In accordance with this new day, Brentwood held a special assembly, followed by a schoolwide walk/run, with all members of the Brentwood community sporting orange shirts in support of this cause.
The assembly began with three traditional dances by members of the Qwu’utsun Tzinquaw groupgroup. Afterwards, guest speaker Aldeen spoke about her own experience as a residential school survivor. In an incredibly moving speech, she spoke openly about her trauma and the intergenerational trauma that has affected her daughter Sam and her entire family. Hearing a first-hand account of being a student in a residential school was very difficult to listen to but really solidified why this new day of Truth and Reconciliation is so important for our country.
After the assembly, students and staff had a chance to join Aldeen for a Q&A where they were able to ask her questions directly. Following the Q&A session, the entire school gathered to participate in a 5km run/walk, which was an opportunity for reflection after the day’s events.
One of the coordinators of the event, Mrs Amiel, was proud to see this day finally come and to have Brentwood embrace it, saying "Back in 2007, the largest class-action settlement in Canada concluded. It was the Canadian Residential Schools Agreement, and it paved the way for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. With its 92 Calls to Action, its report took seven years to make, and it captured the stories of 6,500 residential school survivors. One of the Calls to Action was the recommendation of a statutory holiday to commemorate the legacy of the schools. So, Thursday's events were incredibly special and an emotional day for me because it was 14 years in the making. I was also very proud of Brentwood, too. Students watched the dancers and listened to Aldeen and Sam with such compassion, open minds, and respect."
Nina B, Alex ‘22, a member of the Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 class at Brentwood, was grateful to help organize the event, saying “I was honoured to be part of our school community’s small step towards reconciliation.”
Today was the first of many days in our country’s and our school’s future dedicated to recognizing the horrific effects that residential schools have had on Indigenous people across the country, and we are so grateful that we could share it with Aldeen, Sam, and the Qwu’utsun Tzinquaw dancers. We as a country, and a community, still have a long way to go, but this day has demonstrated that we are on the right track.
Will P, Whittall ‘22
The assembly began with three traditional dances by members of the Qwu’utsun Tzinquaw groupgroup. Afterwards, guest speaker Aldeen spoke about her own experience as a residential school survivor. In an incredibly moving speech, she spoke openly about her trauma and the intergenerational trauma that has affected her daughter Sam and her entire family. Hearing a first-hand account of being a student in a residential school was very difficult to listen to but really solidified why this new day of Truth and Reconciliation is so important for our country.
After the assembly, students and staff had a chance to join Aldeen for a Q&A where they were able to ask her questions directly. Following the Q&A session, the entire school gathered to participate in a 5km run/walk, which was an opportunity for reflection after the day’s events.
One of the coordinators of the event, Mrs Amiel, was proud to see this day finally come and to have Brentwood embrace it, saying "Back in 2007, the largest class-action settlement in Canada concluded. It was the Canadian Residential Schools Agreement, and it paved the way for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. With its 92 Calls to Action, its report took seven years to make, and it captured the stories of 6,500 residential school survivors. One of the Calls to Action was the recommendation of a statutory holiday to commemorate the legacy of the schools. So, Thursday's events were incredibly special and an emotional day for me because it was 14 years in the making. I was also very proud of Brentwood, too. Students watched the dancers and listened to Aldeen and Sam with such compassion, open minds, and respect."
Nina B, Alex ‘22, a member of the Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 class at Brentwood, was grateful to help organize the event, saying “I was honoured to be part of our school community’s small step towards reconciliation.”
Today was the first of many days in our country’s and our school’s future dedicated to recognizing the horrific effects that residential schools have had on Indigenous people across the country, and we are so grateful that we could share it with Aldeen, Sam, and the Qwu’utsun Tzinquaw dancers. We as a country, and a community, still have a long way to go, but this day has demonstrated that we are on the right track.
Will P, Whittall ‘22