We acknowledge that we are on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Musqueam Nation. We recognize and respect them as nations in this territory, as well as their historic connection to the lands and waters around us since time immemorial.
The District of West Vancouver remains committed to upholding the Calls to Action identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including informing our residents and staff about the truth of what happened in residential schools.
Please take some time to learn more about Truth and Reconciliation and the history and culture of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
To start, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience will be honoured and kept safe for future generations.
The NCTR was created as part of the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The TRC was charged to listen to survivors, their families, communities, and others affected by the residential school system and educate Canadians about their experiences. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has made important reports available.
Recommended Viewing
We also encourage you to watch the National Film Board of Canada film We Were Children, by Tim Wolochatiuk. The film is available to rent from the film board, borrow from the West Vancouver Memorial Library, or watch for free on Amazon Prime.
Recommended Reading
“A Long and Terrible Shadow” by Thomas Berger gives a clear picture of the colonial abuse and attempted eradication of Indigenous peoples in North and South America. The book is not long and is available as an ebook from West Vancouver Memorial Library.
Other Resources
To continue your learning journey, please visit the library’s website for useful website links, readings, and a webpage dedicated to Residential Schools in Canada.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
In June 2021, the federal government announced that September 30 will be a statutory holiday to recognize the tragic history of loss and the lasting effects of Canada’s residential school system.
2022 is the first year that this day is officially recognized nationally.
The new statutory holiday responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action number 80, which called for the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
September 30 is a day 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.