September 30 is known as Truth and Reconciliation Day where Federal Public Servants have a day off and are encouraged to learn more about Indigenious history and culture. But why do we get this day off? This relates to the Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action, specifically Call 80:
We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
So since 2021, we as public servants had September 30 off due to Call 80 in order to interact with Indigenious communities and learn more about residential schools and how we can do our part in the reconciliation process.
Another Call that I want to bring your attention to that hasn’t been completed yet is Call 57:
We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Call 57 to summarize in a few words is to have professional development and training for public servants regarding Indigenous history and culture. Although each year, we are mandated to complete some form of Indigenous training or learning, it is not enough. We should encourage our team leaders, managers, and directors to learn more about Indigenous history and culture and to develop a formal plan, to be one step closer to reaching true Truth and Reconciliation.
We must educate ourselves about the history of the Indigenous people of Canada and wear Orange Shirts as a symbol of hope, reconciliation and a commitment to a better future. As part of this, Local 541 has recently handed out a bunch of Every Child Matter Tees made by Indigenous Proud where 100% of the profits go towards the Orange Shirt Society and Indian Residental School Survivors Society. I encourage our members to wear their Every Matters Tees in public on September 30 and the next time you work in the office to show solidarity with our Indigenous colleagues. Make a bold statement that the work still needs to be done, learn more, educate others and stand in solidarity so that all of us are better for it.