We encourage people to review the many resources on this web page.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Supports for Survivors
If you are a survivor, or know a Survivor who needs emotional support, a national crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Residential School Survivor Support Line: 1-866-925-4419
Sunrise Ceremony 2024
Portage College observed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This day allowed students, staff, faculty, and community to learn more about residential schools' history and ongoing consequences.
Sunrise Ceremony 2023
Portage College observed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 29th.
This day allowed students, staff, faculty, and community to learn more about residential schools' history and ongoing consequences. It's important to remember and honour those who never returned home after attending residential schools and the survivors and their families who carry the burden of this painful part of our shared history.
Sunrise Ceremony 2022
Portage College hosted a traditional Sunrise Ceremony at 7:25 am on Friday, September 30th, 2022 in honour of all the children who never returned home after attending residential schools; and the survivors who remain.
Sunrise Ceremony- 2021
It's important to remember and honour those who never returned home after attending residential school and the survivors and their families who carry the burden of this painful part of our shared history.
Please read the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Portage College press release.
Additional Resources
Be sure to watch on your local community messenger boards for local events to attend.
Here are some events you may want to check out:
St. Paul FCSS: Youth Drop-In Dream Catcher Craft 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Lac La Biche County: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cold Lake- September 27th- an evening of songs and stories.
Tour the Portage College Museum of Aboriginal Peoples' Art and Artifacts
Attend a traditional feast and round dance
Virtual sessions from National Truth and Reconciliation lunch and learn webinars
Books:
- Phil Fontaine, AiméeCraft. A Knock at the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2015.
- R. Miller. Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996.
- John Milloy. A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System, 1879-1896. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
- Elizabeth Graham. The Mush Hole: Life at Two Indian Residential Schools. HefflePublishing, 1997.
For more book options, visit:
Memoirs:
- Arthur Bear Chief. My Decade at Old Sun, My Lifetime of Hell. https://www.aupress.ca/books/120260-my-decade-at-old-sun-my-lifetime-of-hell/
- Edmund Metatawabin. Up Ghost River: A Chief's Journey Through The Turbulent Waters
- Basil Johnston. Indian School Days
- WabKinew. The Reason We Walk
- Joseph Merasty. The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir
- Bev Sellars. They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School
- Theodore Fontaine. Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools: A Memoir
- Russell Moses, Columnist for Ottawa Citizen. “Moses: In residential school, we were treated as sub-human, and hunger was never absent.”
- We Were Children (2012)
- Where the Spirit Lives (1989)
- Christmas at Moose Factory (1971)
- The Secret Path (2016)
- Wawahte: Stories of Residential School Survivors (2016)
- Indian Horse (2018) Available on Netflix
- The Chanie Wenjack Heritage Minute
- For more films and documentaries please go to:
National Film Board Residential Schools Video List
Vimeo Residential Schools Video List - CBC's Radio-Canada CURIO.ca Resources:
https://curio.ca/en/collection/beyond-94-truth-and-reconciliation-in-canada-2586/
https://curio.ca/en/collection/residential-schools-a-sad-chapter-in-canadian-history-2027/
https://curio.ca/en/collection/aboriginal-education-then-and-now-issues-controversies-and-concerns-1737/
We acknowledge that Portage College’s service region is on the traditional lands of First Nation Peoples, the owners of Treaty 6, 8 and 10, which are also homelands to the Métis people. We honour the history and culture of all people who first lived and gathered in these lands.