Hamilton, Six Nations organizations marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation all week

Friday marks the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a day honouring "the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities."

The day was one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action, which called upon the federal government to a day to also "ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process." 

Several organizations in and around Hamilton and Six Nations are hosting events all week to commemorate the day and come together as community:

Virtual panel featuring Alicia Elliott

The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) is hosting a "conversation on truth and reconciliation" featuring Mohawk writer Alicia Elliott as a guest speaker, discussing turning conversation and experiences into action. 

Elliott will be joined at the virtual event by Hamilton-based Plains Cree Woman Jordan Carrier as a moderator, and, as panelists, Anishnaabekwe from Garden River Danielle Boissoneau and Mohawk activist Nathan Muir.

The event will be live from the HARRC's Facebook and Twitter accounts starting at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Calls to Action discussion

The Yellowhead Institute is hosting an event where Indigenous leaders will reflect on the calls to action and the meaning of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The event is online and will take place on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The panel of speakers will have Cindy Blackstock, Kisha Supernant, Sheila Cote-Meek, Ginger Gosnell-Myers, Kunuk Inutiq, Janet Smylie, and Scott Franks, discussing the "importance of the 'Legacy' Calls to Action (1-42), the injustice of their incompletion, and the barriers to their completion."

"With this event, we hope to create an open and honest space to illuminate the reality of Indigenous experience in this country, as well as reflect on the nature of the September 30 holiday, when so many of the impactful Calls to Action remain incomplete," reads the event description. 

Gathering Place movie night 

On Thursday, events continue at the Gathering Place with a movie night. 

The Woodland Cultural Centre is hosting a double-feature starting with Disney's Brother Bear and then Smoke Signals.

The event starts at 6 p.m.

"Proceeds of the Film Series will go towards the Woodland Cultural Centre so that we can create more memorable nights like this one and continue amplifying the voices of Indigenous filmmakers," read a social media post. 

McMaster Indigenous Research Institute on reconciliation

Also on Thursday, McMaster is hosting a panel discussion on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 

"Members of our campus community are invited to attend the National Truth and Reconciliation Day Panel Discussion hosted by Indigenous Studies faculty at the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery," read a news release. The event starts at 6 p.m.

Director of McMaster Indigenous Research Institute Savage Bear will moderate, while Vanessa Watts, Mary Jane McCallum, and Lianne Leddy will be the panelists.

They will be discussing topics around the history of residential schools, the work of the Munsee Delaware Nation History and Language Group, reconciliation and critiques of it, and more.   

An event for survivors

The Woodland Cultural Centre is also hosting a Survivors Gathering on Friday and Saturday.

The event is only for survivors and inter-generational survivors of the Mohawk Institute. It will take place at the Mohawk Village Memorial Park.

According to the Woodland Cultural Centre's website, there is also an opportunity at the event for survivors to have their story preserved in a video or audio recording for the centre's educational program. 

The Woodland Cultural Centre will be open to the public Monday to Thursday this week, but closed Friday and Saturday. 

• Listen live on CBC Radio One or stream on CBC Listen, from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, when Jolene Banning of Fort William First Nation will host a special morning radio program with CBC. "Telling Our Truths" will look at how Indigenous peoples are reclaiming their stories, histories and traditions.