|
On September 30th, 2022, the staff at Ontario Presents will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. As a response to Call to Action 80 in the 94 Calls to Action, calling for a federal statutory day of commemoration, September 30th was established as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—a day to honour and remember First Nations, Inuit, Métis and all residential school survivors, the children who never made it home, their families, and their communities.
|
|
|
Our office will be closed on Friday, September 30th, 2022, as the Ontario Presents team will focus on educating and reflecting on how we can personally support reconciliation efforts with residential school survivors and all of those affected by these tragedies. We will reopen on Monday, October 3rd, 2022.
|
|
|
To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, we invite you to visit the Orange Shirt Society website along with the following recommended resources:
|
|
The Path - Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada: The Canadian Live Music Association has partnered with NVision Insight Group to offer two Indigenous cultural awareness and intercultural capacity programs at a discounted rate to the live music industry. The first class consists of five online modules focusing on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada, the history of Indigenous peoples, and their relationship with European settlers, the British Crown, and the Dominion of Canada.
The Path - Building Indigenous Intercultural Capacity: The second course offered by Nvision and the Canadian Live Music Association consists of four 90-minute sessions taking place in a virtual classroom. Topics include defining race, racism, and culture; challenging stereotypes; understanding affinity/unconscious/cultural bias; and how to become interculturally intelligent.
Closing the Gap: A national research study led by the Canadian Live Music Association designed to examine the challenges and barriers that impede the participation of Indigenous, Black, and live music workers of colour within the live music industry.
|
|
|
It’s Our Time - Residential Schools Toolkit: a resource created by the Assembly of First Nations, outlining the history of the residential school system and its impacts on Indigenous People.
Ontario Presents’ Statement of Guiding Principles for Presenting Indigenous Work: a document outlining guiding principles that should be respected and considered to support the presenting of Indigenous work.
Ontario Presents' Indigenous Relationships Resource List: a list of resources discussing land/territory acknowledgements, an introduction to Indigenous terminology, and understanding the importance of presenting Indigenous artists, stories, and culture.
Ontario Presents’ Indigenous Artists Spotlight Series: In our continuing efforts to encourage the respectful presentation of Indigenous art, we began a Spotlight series in 2017 featuring an Indigenous Artist each month in our eNewsletter and blog.
|
|
|
We also invite you to engage with and support Indigenous artists at the following list of recommended events:
|
|
|
A Virtual Evening with Sandra Laronde & Duncan McCue.
Virtual via Zoom and YouTube
Sept. 27
Join author Sandra Laronde and CBC’s Duncan McCue as they discuss Sandra’s debut novel She Holds Up the Stars - a coming-of-age story following a young Indigenous girl in search for a sense of home, finding strength and courage in her gifts, her deepening connection to the land, and her own cultural awakening. Registration is required to directly participate in the Zoom webinar.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
|
Commemorate Truth & Reconciliation: Tomson Highway, Rebecca Cuddy, Sarain Fox, and more
Koerner Hall - Toronto, Canada
Sept. 30
The Royal Conservatory begins the Koerner Hall concert season by honouring the lives and knowledge of Indigenous people with performances from artists including Sarain Fox, Nimkii, Rebecca Cuddy, the New Orford String Quartet, Philip Chiu, Tomson Highway, and Patricia Cano.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
|
Christine Friday Live Stream
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts - Halton County, ON
Sept. 30
Join Christine Friday as she explores her Anishinaabek roots in the film Path Without End—a 10-minute documentary dance film depicting the Friday family taking back their power from Shingwauk residential school and speaking their truth on their traditional tribal family hunting territory. In addition to her dance film, Friday will also be performing her live dance piece Firewater Thunderbird Rising, depicting the transformative spirit of dance travelling through dimensional realms of existence.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
|
TRC Calls to Action: A Participatory Reading
Vernon City Hall, 3400 - 30 Street - Vernon, BC
Sept. 30
Vernon and District Immigrant & Community Services Society (VDICSS) invite you to join in for a participatory reading of the 94 Calls to Action at City Hall. The 94 Calls to Action, written by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, is foundational to the process of redressing the legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation in so-called Canada. Admissions are by donation at this community event.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
|
Voices of Bawating - Playlist
James L. McIntyre Centennial Library - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Sept. 30 - Oct. 1
Members of the local Anishinaabe community partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Public LIbrary to create the Voice of Bawating video series, featuring artists from the local Indigenous community sharing a different form of artistic expression.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
|
Weaving our Story Towards Reconciliation
Kinsmen Hall - Port Coquitlam, BC
Sept. 30 - Oct. 16
Tsartlip First Nation artist Priscilla Omulo hosts a day-long gathering at Kinsmen centre, focused on engaging in reflection and participating in a community-led project to create a large heart sculpture made of cedar hearts woven by event participants.
Click here to register for the event.
|
|
|
We recommed the following readings and resources, and we encourage you to consult additional resources beyond the list below:
Legacy of Hope Foundation: a collection of videos, accompanied by physical exhibits, designed to educate and raise awareness about the impacts of the Residential School System.
|
|
|
Missing Children of Indian Residential Schools: a story map created by Carina Luo, geospatial data analyst at the Leddy Library at the University of Windsor, using data from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) and the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission report) to visually represent the 139 Indian residential schools across Canada.
Native Land Digital: a digital interactive map designed to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, languages and the history of the land.
Accessing Decent Work Report: a presentation from the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council detailing the perspectives of Indigenous Support Services of Toronto.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Resource: a curated collection of events, programming, and resources from Culture Days.
|
|
|
Giving Thanks: Indigenous Prosperity: a study on the concept of Ganohonyohk (Giving Thanks): Indigenous Prosperity, contributing to a conceptual shift from “poverty reduction” to “prosperity” in the context of urban Indigenous communities, written by the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Circles.
The Government of Canada Website provides a brief overview of the history of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in addition to resources and ways to digitally engage.
Indigenous Primary Health Council: an Indigenous governed, culture-based, and informed organization focused on supporting the advancement and evolution of Indigenous Primary Healthcare.
The Indigenous Advisory Council at the Canadian Music Centre: The Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) was created to examine and search for resolutions to the use of Indigenous Song and Story in the works of Canadian Composition. The IAC advises on matters related to cultural appropriation and misuse of Indigenous songs, story, and culture.
|
|
|
If you require additional support during this time, the following services are available:
Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Line
24-hour crisis line for survivors and families of survivors.
Phone: 1-866-925-4419 (Toll-free)
Talk4Healing
Culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women, available in 14 languages across Ontario.
Help Line: 1-855-554-HEAL (4357)
Crisis Line: 1-888-200-9997
Chat: https://www.talk4healing.com/live-chat/
Hope for Wellness Help Line
Immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Services are offered in English and French, as well as Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut on request. Available 24 hours a day.
Phone: 1-855-242-3310
Chat: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca
|
|
|
Ontario Presents is committed to honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as we continue to meet the needs of the touring and performing arts sector.
On September 30th, we encourage you to find time to reflect and honour the Indigenous Peoples of your community.
|
|
|
|
|
