Marilyn's Photos - Sep 30 2025 - Truth and Reconciliation Day
Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day. It was started in 2013 and became a statutory holiday in 2021. We are one of 40 nations who have had reconciliation commissions.
South Africa observes the Day of Reconciliation on December 16th - originally the day commemorating the victory over the Zulus in 1838.
Argentina had the National Commission of the Disappearance of Persons and observes March 24th as the National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice.
Sierra Leone, South Korea, and Chile have formed truth and reconciliation commissions to investigate past injustices and make them part of the public record.
In total there are 40 countries that have established truth commissions. There are 195 countries in the world. Mind the gap, so to speak.
How many reconciliation commissions do some countries need? One for the indigenous population and one for the Black population if you look at U.S. history. They had a commission for those interred during the second world war - that happened in 1988 and by 1992 the U.S. government had disbursed over $1.6 billion to almost 83,000 Japanese Americans. Canada had one of those as well.
In Canada, reparations to First Nations and Indigenous peoples is part of the process - both individual compensation and Treaty settlements. Can you imagine what the compensation will be for treaty annuities dating back to the 1800s that are owing? What about land "confiscated" and no treaty is in place? Modern treaties, self-government arrangements, resource and land management rights - there are still so many things to work out.
So much has changed in 50 years. Back then our education in our primary and secondary school system was from the colonialist's perspective. Today there is a mandatory Indigenous-focused curriculum for primary and secondary school grades.
In our adult world, it is CBC radio and television that give an Indigenous perspective. My favourite radio show is Rosanna Deerchild's "Unreserved." Here's part of her introduction to the weekly series:
"We are based in what is now known as Canada. Rosanna hails from O-Pipon-Na-Piwan Cree Nation at South Indian Lake in northern Manitoba, and now lives and works in Winnipeg (Treaty 1)."
Can you imagine how much unlearning potential there is in that phrase - "what is now known as Canada." If we just started with learning and unlearning place names, we could become fluent in a number of Indigenous languages. I vote we start with Lake Louise "Ho-run-num-nay. (or Horâ Juthin Îmne), which translates to "Lake of the Little Fishes" in the Stoney Nakoda language. The name reflects the small size of the fish in the cold glacial waters of the lake."
We move on to our picture today. This is what a September garden can look like - annuals are at their peak in September with lots of vibrant colours on mature plants.
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