National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Every year on September 30, we honour, learn and reflect on the experiences of the survivors of the residential school system as well as the missing and murdered children associated with these schools. On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we commit our support to the healing journeys of those impacted and their Families and communities, and actively engage in the process of reconciliation.

Today and every day, we want to commemorate and learn from the of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans who stepped forward to defend rights and freedoms that they did not experience equally upon their return to civilian life — many of whom were residential school children.

We encourage you to join us in learning more about the legacies of colonialism and residential schooling, and how these shaped the experiences of Indigenous Veterans during and after their service in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and other conflicts.

Learn more:

• Remembering Indigenous soldiers: Learn about the Indigenous children who found respite from the residential school system through the Cadets program.
• Indigenous Peoples and Canada’s military: Learn about the impacts of war and service for Indigenous communities, particularly for those in residential schools.
• Indigenous Veterans: Learn about the histories of Indigenous service.
• First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans and their Families: Learn more about the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans and Veteran Families.
• Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian military: Historical perspectives (chapter 6): Learn about the experiences of Indigenous women in the military and how residential schools affected their service.