Today marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  A day that honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.  A day to reflect and raise awareness about the struggles that these Indigenous communities have faced and continue to face today. Attention, acknowledgement and commemoration towards these horrific parts of our history is a starting and necessary step towards the reconciliation process. 

We will be, and encourage you to take this day of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day to listen, read, educate yourself and others, participate, reflect on the intergenerational impacts that indigenous communities face and to honour the survivors, their families, communities, especially those children that never made it home.  

The NSMBA is extremely grateful to operate and recreate on the shared territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are committed to listening, learning, amplifying and fostering relationships with our allies of this shared land.  We advocate for equal access and opportunity within Mountain Biking and the riding of the North Shore Trails.

Our efforts  towards reconciliation are led by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). We encourage everyone to read through the 94 calls to action, as amplifying indigenous voices and respecting culture and rights is the way forward.

Resources:

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/

TRC Calls to Action: http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Website: https://twnation.ca/

xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Website: https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/

Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Website: https://www.squamish.net/

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html

Ways that you can Participate:

Wall of Protection

Tsleil-waututh members will walk 8.5 km through North Vancouver to the former St. Paul’s Residential School site to commemorate National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.  The public is invited to create a wall of protection and line up along 3rd street and Cotton Road. https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/tsleil-waututh-nation-to-lead-healing-pilgrimage-walk-north-vancouver-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-4470910

Drum for the Children

Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc is hosting a worldwide drum circle at 2:15pm PDT.  Link to learn the Secwépemc Honour Song: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tk-emlups-sharing-song-1.6180478

Wear an Orange Shirt 

The Orange shirt society encourages you to wear orange this September 30th. Learn more here: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html

48 Books by Indeginous Authors 

https://www.cbc.ca/books/48-books-by-indigenous-writers-to-read-to-understand-residential-schools-1.6056204

University of Alberta’s FREE Indigenous Canada Course 

Learn more and enrol: https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Donate to:

https://www.irsss.ca

https://nctr.ca/memorial/na-mi-quai-ni-mak/na-mi-quai-ni-mak-community-support-fund/

https://legacyofhope.ca

https://www.orangeshirtday.org/donations.html

https://www.nwac.ca