Message from the Acting Dean: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Dear all,

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 commemorates the tragic history and legacy of the residential school system in Canada. This year also marks ten years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report and made their Calls to Action. I invite you to join me in marking this anniversary by taking action: seeking out opportunities to learn, attending events in your area and listening to the stories shared by Survivors.

On September 24, I plan to take time to educate myself on the historical and personal legacies of the residential school system by attending a talk by my colleague Rick Monture in the Indigenous Studies Department. The event, ‘“This is not my story, but yours’: Memory, Family, and the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School’ is being held in LRW 1003?from 11 a.m. I’ve included the registration link below.

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I will join Nature at McMaster to plant trees in the Food Forest for the future Indigenous Teaching Garden wearing my 2025 Orange Shirt to honour the Survivors. The shirt was designed by a local Indigenous student artist (Talon Singleton) and purchases of the shirt from the Campus Bookstore will benefit the Survivors’ Secretariat.

These are just a few of the many events that are happening around campus to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The full list, with registration links, can be found on Daily News. If you are able, I hope you can join me in attending some of the events which speak to you.

Best wishes,

Katherine Cuff

Acting Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences