UCalgary partners with Calgary Public Library to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

The University of Calgary, with guidance from the Office of Indigenous Engagement, is partnering with Calgary Public Library to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30, as part of its ongoing commitment to the goals of its Indigenous Strategy, ii’ taa’poh’to’p. 

Two events are planned to mark the annual event: 

There will be a free screening of the film Bones of Crows on Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall at Calgary’s Central Library, 800 3 St. S.E. Directed by Marie Clements, Bones of Crows follows Aline Spears and her descendants as they endure Canada’s residential school system and face systemic oppression, racism and abuse. Hosted by Calgary Public Library, the screening will include remarks from Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur, BA’01, and Dr. Michael Hart, PhD, UCalgary’s vice-provost of Indigenous Engagement.  

The second event, held at UCalgary’s main campus on Sept. 30 itself, includes a flag-lowering ceremony in the morning, followed by an afternoon keynote presentation by author Michelle Good from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall in the Rosza Centre. The presentation, which will also be livestreamed, will be hosted by Hart and include remarks from Meilleur and UCalgary President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley.  

For more than 14 years, Good, a Cree writer and lawyer, has been a tireless advocate for residential school survivors. Her writing has been published in magazines and anthologies across Canada, but she is perhaps best known for her debut novel, Five Little Indians, the recipient of several awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction.  

The annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events honour the Orange Shirt Day movement, which started in 2013, and are part of ii’ taa’poh’to’p responding to the call for reconciliation through education. Launched in 2017, the strategy commits to creating an inclusive and equitable campus that recognizes and respects Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. 

“It is important for us to strive towards a transformative education system that recognizes, respects and creates space for Indigenous experiences, knowledge, languages and cultures,” says Hart. “Coming together to listen, learn and reflect on the legacy of residential schools is an opportunity to open our minds, our hearts and our communities to a better future where every child matters.” 

UCalgary and Calgary Public Library are working towards addressing the Calls to Action outlined in the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.  

"As part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the Library has a wide range of year-round programming to share and celebrate Indigenous voices, history, experiences and culture,” says Meilleur. “With partners like the University of Calgary, we expand our reach even further into the community, engaging more people with trusted resources and initiatives. Learning the truth about residential schools and their impact is a foundational step for everyone and necessary for us all to move towards reconciliation.” 

This year’s Orange Shirt Day once again offers a valuable opportunity for the campus and broader Calgary community to come together to learn about the legacy of residential schools and the history of colonization in Canada. In support of the university’s role in reconciliation through education, McCauley says, “together, as a community deeply committed to ii’ taa’poh’to’p, let us take another step together on our shared journey towards reconciliation.”  

Those wishing to take part in these events can register at ucalgary.ca/orange-shirt-day. Attendees are encouraged to wear Orange Shirt Day T-shirts in honour of survivors and to help commemorate the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.