Today, September 30, is the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As a settler organization, staff at Women’s Shelters Canada have decided to not take the federal holiday as a day off work, but rather actively spend a good portion of the day engaging with resources related to residential schools and reconciliation.

As we did last year, we will also:

  • Reflect on how to be a better ally to Indigenous communities
  • Recommit to helping end the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people
  • Resolve to continue calling attention to the ongoing tragedy of missing & murdered Indigenous women & girls

We encourage our community of shelters/transition houses and supporters to do the same. Check out our social media (@endvawnetwork) throughout the day as we share postings from Indigenous organizations and activists.

Want to directly support the work of Indigenous organizations working to end gender-based violence today? Check out our sister shelter organization, the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence (NACAFV). You can donate to them online.

Looking for resources? Below are a few examples of things WSC staff will be engaging with today. Additional resources can be found on the Canadian Women’s Foundation website:

In-Person Gathering in Ottawa

In partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, APTN will be holding a special one-hour commemorative gathering at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa, which will air simultaneously across all APTN channels, at 1 pm EST.

Listen

Read

Watch

Resources in French available here.