In Canada, this date was chosen to coincide with Orange Shirt day which began in 2013 as a way to honor children who were forced to leave their families and culture to attend Residential Schools. Part of why this national holiday came into being was to acknowledge the horrific legacy of Residential Schools, in the wake of the bodies that are still being uncovered.
Some people seem to think that all of this is in the past. It is not. People make the excuse that they themselves did not do this, but the fact is that all settlers benefit everyday from racist systems that favour them.
The consequences can be seen clearly impacting Indigenous peoples today. Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in both the foster care and criminal justice systems. Indigenous girls, women, and two-spirit people are being abducted and murdered at rates which would not be tolerated if the same thing was happening to settlers. Land and water rights are also issues that continue to this day.
It is up to us, as Canadians, to not allow the word Reconciliation to turn into just another buzzword. We cannot let this day become just another day off of work.
PANFEST has committed itself to addressing Indigenous issues and cultural appropriation within itself and our pagan community to ensure that we are providing a safe place for all people.
We would like to encourage everyone to join us and use this day as a time of reflection and an opportunity for education. Read books, watch films, and buy from Indigenous artists. Reflect upon how we all can act to dismantle systems of colonialism and help to repair the damage that has been done.
People are often unsure of where to start this journey so here are some links to get you started:
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a report in 2015 with 94 Calls to Action: Read the 94 Calls to Action here
Some info about the actual progress on the 94 calls to action: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action: 2019 Status Update
Lists of books for different reading levels: A reconciliation reading list: 15 must-read books – Federation of Ontario Public Libraries
