September 26, 2024 - Laurentian University will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a Symposium. On September 30th, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. community members will gather in the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC) Round Room as Indigenous elders and academics share their experiences.
“We have a vision for Truth and Reconciliation to center Indigenous voices and perspectives, emphasize the importance of storytelling, and create safe and sustained dialogue,” said Dominic Beaudry, Associate Vice-President of Academic and Indigenous Programs. “The symposium allows the Laurentian community to feel a sense of kinship while marking this important day. We look forward to welcoming our keynote speakers and having them share their teachings with us.”
The symposium will feature keynote speakers:
Shirley Williams, Traditional Anishinaabe Elder and Professor Emeritus with the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University. Born and raised in Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, Williams attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. Her insights and experiences are pivotal in understanding Indigenous history and reconciliation. She is the first Indigenous woman in Canada to reach full professor status via traditional knowledge.
Lorney Bob, Language Revitalization Coordinator with Indigenous Students Affairs at Laurentian University. He is a Traditional Anishinaabe Elder and teaches Anishinaabe land-based courses that integrate daily language learning, cultural teachings, and ceremonies, fostering a deeper connection to Indigenous traditions.
Jason Nakogee, Truth and Reconciliation Coordinator with the Office of Academic and Indigenous Programs at Laurentian University. Nakogee’s role is crucial in promoting and facilitating dialogues around truth and reconciliation within the academic community.
In observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, September 30th is a national teaching moment. In lieu of normally scheduled classes, students are encouraged to join the symposium and take this opportunity to further educate themselves.
“Orange Shirt Day is a grassroots, Indigenous-led movement that was started by Phyllis Webstad to honour those affected. It led to Canada’s designation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a national day of observance,” said Beaudry. “Laurentian University’s Symposium on Orange Shirt Day is a memorialization of the tragic and dark history and the legacy of the Residential School system and a vital component of the ongoing reconciliation process.”
Orange Shirt Day honours the children that never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, and the families and communities that were and continue to be impacted by the legacy of the residential school system. This day is dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices and fostering meaningful conversations about truth and reconciliation.
All members of the Laurentian community are encouraged to attend and engage in this event as we collectively continue our commitment to truth and reconciliation.