How MRU plans to recognize and honour National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
By Noel Ormita, Contributor
With Sept. 30 marking the second annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, there will be no classes but Mount Royal University (MRU) and the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) have planned activities starting Sept. 22 for students and faculty to partake in.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on campus on Thursday. Orange shirts are available for purchase at the Campus Store for $30.
Around campus, students will find activities that encourage them to learn, recognize and reflect on the cultural history and social implications of our past. The Cultural Inclusion Centre will have free recurring events like the Indigenous Crafting Circle on Sept. 28 and Drum, Dine and Discuss on Sept. 29 to learn about and celebrate the rich Indigenous culture present in nearby communities.
The office of indigenization and decolonization, in collaboration with the Iniskim Centre, hosts multiple events through Sept. 22 to Oct. 4 as part of the Journey to Indigenization to commemorate not just National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, but also the Red Dress campaign to remember and seek justice for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Through this period, students can engage in conversations with Indigenous leaders and speakers visiting the MRU campus like Elder Roy Bear Chef who will read You Hold Me Up, a children’s book about reconciliation, to kids at the Mount Royal Child Centre.
An ‘Every Child Matters’ march will take place on Sept.29 starting from the East Gate Courtyard to the Centennial Garden on campus to recognize and honour residential school survivors and the children who never found their way back home.
The day will wrap up with the Cougars Men’s hockey game who will play against the University of Alberta in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation where the audience is encouraged to wear an orange shirt.
Students who wish to seek support can reach out to and visit the Iniskim Centre which offer resources like Student Success Program, Indigenous Housing Program and Medicine Trail Program, Naato’ohsokay.
