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Reconciliation Calendar



Below is a list of every day activities you can do each day in September to promote truth and reconciliation in Jasper. 

 





September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation otherwise known as Orange Shirt Day – a day to honour survivors of residential schools and their families.

A good place to start learning is with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action – steps to address the harm caused by the residential school system and support healing for Indigenous peoples. Here's a children and youth-friendly guide to the Calls to Action!

Let’s spend this month learning, reflecting, and taking action – together.

Did you know? National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created as a direct response to Call to Action #80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.


Since time immemorial, diverse Indigenous communities and groups have lived, harvested and utilized the land here in Jasper.
Take some time to read through Parks Canada's webpage, and learn about the history of Indigenous people’s connection to Jasper.

Do you know the story of why we wear orange on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?

Watch this video and learn about Phyllis Webstad’s story.

Also, do you have an orange shirt to wear on September 30th ? Consider supporting an Indigenous business! We’ve linked some below.


Younger Children Resource

Indigenous business links:

Check out the Municipality of Jasper’s Truth and Reconciliation webpage.

Familiarize yourself with 21 Indigenous Partners, which can be found towards the bottom of the page.

Check out this CBC Comedy sketch on Land Acknowledgments. This sketch might make you laugh – but it also makes you think.

While funny, it also encourages us to reflect on how to ensure our words and actions are thoughtful, respectful and grounded in genuine understanding and commitment to reconciliation…how can we all do better?

Resource for Children

Read the Municipality of Jasper's Land Acknowledgement Policy



The following video contains personal accounts of a Chief’s experiences in the residential school system. It includes descriptions of trauma and cultural loss that may be distressing for some viewers. Please take care while watching and step away if you need to. 

Support is available through the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Watch this video and learn about Chief Robert Josephs experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.


Watch this episode: Molly in Denali Grandpa’s Drum. This episode explores how the residential school system left lasting impacts, including the choice to stop drumming and the loss of a cherished cultural tradition once loved by Denali’s grandfather.

Looking for a new podcast? Listen to CBC’s Unreserved podcast with Rosanna Deerchild.

Searching for your next read? Explore these books in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many of these titles are available at the Jasper library – stop by and see what you can find! Or if you are able, consider purchasing a copy of a book to support Indigenous authors and their work.

Adult book titles:

Children book titles:

Do you know about the Sixties Scoop in Canada? Canada took thousands of Indigenous children from their parents between the 1960s and the 1980s. Similar to the residential school system, the sixties scoop was an attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples and the effects are still felt today.


The following video discusses the Sixties Scoop in Canada and includes accounts of family separation, cultural loss, and trauma. This content may be distressing for some viewers. Please take care while watching and step away if you need to.

Do you know about the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples (UNDRIP)?

Watch this video to learn about UNDRIP and why it is so important.

Many Indigenous communities in Canada continue to face long-term boil water advisories.

Not only is water vital for survival and wellbeing, it is culturally sacred. Watch this video of clean water activist Autumn Peltier on her journey to advocate for clean drinking water and the protection of water.

Also check out the map of long-term drinking water advisories.

We are all Treaty People. But what does that mean? And why does it matter? 

Watch this video to learn more about Treaties and why everyone has a role to play. 

Also check out Yellowhead Institute's Treaty map. 

Do you know about the four sacred medicines: Sage, sweetgrass, cedar and tobacco? Follow this link to learn more about the sacred medicines.

Want to test out your knowledge on Indigenous history in Canada? Take this quiz and find out! 

Varying levels – easy, medium and difficult. 

Show support for local Indigenous businesses here in Jasper!

The late and honourable Senator Murray Sinclair is an inspiration, who helped create and implement the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action. 


 Watch this 2:55 minute video of Senator Murray Sinclair discussing reconciliation.

 

 

Did you know about the Canada’s pass system? 

The pass system was a policy implemented in 1885 to control the movement of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples needed a pass from an Indian agent to leave their reserves.

More information about the pass system can be found here.

Learn a greeting in Cree, an Indigenous language spoken in the Jasper area.

Cree: Tansi (THAN-SAY) means ‘how are things’ in Cree.

Do you know the year Indigenous peoples were granted the right to vote? And in which province? 

Before starting this short video – make a guess! 

Learn a greeting in Michif, an Indigenous language spoken in the Jasper area.

Metis: Tansi (THAN-SAY) means ‘how are things’ in Michif.

Take a moment to learn about how drumming is interconnected to culture and healing.

 

Watch this video of how to say hello in 15 Indigenous languages!

Child & youth friendly!

A timeline of residential schools in Canada. 

Did you know the last residential school closed in 1996?

 

Interested in taking a walk? How about a stroll down to the Jasper Indigenous Exhibit, located near the info centre.

Watch this video of Mary Lou and Dan Smoke share the Water Song.

How about a movie night? You can watch Gord Downie’s The Secret Path for free online. 

This documentary shares Gord Downie’s work to tell the story of Chanie Wenjack and the truth about Canada’s residential school system

Read this CBC article to learn about beading and how it connects to culture, tradition, and healing.

Learn a greeting in Ojibwe – an Indigenous language spoken in the Jasper area.

Aaniin/Aanii/Ahnen, means
‘hello’ in Ojibwe.

To learn the pronunciation of the word Aniin, visit this link.

Bannock is a symbol of cultural exchange and historical resilience.

Have you tried Bannock before? If not, here is a recipe to make your very own Bannock.

Go for a walk in what is now known as Jasper National Park. Look at the land around you and reflect on what you have learned in the past 28 days. 

What role do you play in advancing truth and reconciliation?

Set an intention on how you will observe September 30th and honour the survivors of the residential school system. 

How will you continue to learn and acknowledge the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada throughout the year?