Saturday September 30th was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

As with other issues, there are a lot of words that I could say about this, but you shouldn’t be listening to me.

Instead, if you want to understand the issues better, I recommend the reports produced by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Commission and National Center continue to produce reports in an ongoing way. They have prioritized what they think you should read first, along with the 2015 reports that include a comprehensive history as well as specific calls to action.

You may be interested in First Nations art across various media. I would encourage you to do your own research, but I would put forward the following:

Kent Monkman is an interdisciplinary Cree visual artist. His paintings and installations are thought-provoking, and helped me see Canadian institutions (such as the RCMP) in a very different way. His most recent installation at the ROM was gut-wrenching and thoughtful and so much more.

If you’re looking for music, you might be interested in The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red) (wikipedia link)

If you’re looking for a book, you might be interested in Thomas King. (wikipedia link), or perhaps Indian Horse (also a film) by Richard Wagamese.

The Toronto Public Library has also a list of recommended resources.

If you’re a teacher (or want to learn more), the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation has a Teaching Resource collection.