On Wednesday, September 29^th Acsenda observed the first National Day for Truth & Reconciliation on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ y̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ l̓ ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

The aim for this gathering was to honour the residential school survivors, their resiliency and strength to continue fighting despite all the odds, to reflect on the term ‘reconciliation’, its meaning and significance for us at Acsenda but above all it was to remember the young lives lost. It was also to remember and honour the courage of Phyliis (Jack) Webstad who in May 2013 shared her experience as a residential school survivor and started the Orange Shirt Day to honour all the young ones forced to go through ill-treatment and abuse.

The staff, faculty members, and students participated in a small gathering both in-person and online to engage in meaningful conversation on reconciliation and the ways we can raise awareness amongst our peers as well as our international students. Everyone observed a minute of silence to honour the children whose unmarked graves were uncovered across Canada this year.

Like last year we want to take this moment to reach out to our Indigenous communities, the survivors, and their loved ones to tell them,

“We see you; we hear you, and we are open to learn as we walk towards reconciliation in the true sense”.