*The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience. (add another other support lines?)*

Why Truth First?

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action #59: We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.

There was Tom and there was John. Tom lived opposite John. One day, Tom stole John’s bicycle and every day John saw Tom cycling to school on his bicycle. A year later, Tom walked up to John. He stretched out his hand. “Let’s reconcile and put the past behind us.” John looked at Tom’s hand. “And what about the bicycle?” “No,” said Tom, “I’m not talking about the bicycle. I’m talking about reconciliation.” 
This story was told by Father Mxolisi Mpambani during a panel discussion on reconciliation organised jointly by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the University of Cape Town’s department of African Studies. 

Age Based Tools

Resources for Children and Families:
​
The word Indigenous - explained 
An animated CBC Kids News video explaining the term 'Indigenous', as well as other key terms that are used refer to Canada's Indigenous peoples | 2:27 min runtime
What is reconciliation? 
​A CBC Kids News video explaining what 'reconciliation' means. why it is necessary in Canada, and overviewing the formation and work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission | 4:46 min runtime
Treaties Explained 
A CBC Kids News video on historic and modern treaties between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government | 5:54 min runtime
Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People (Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger)
Short chapterbook for grades 6+ that covers the history of Indigenous peoples in North America since the end of the Ice Age using archeological evidence and Indigenous stories.

*see more stories in the RESOURCES doc?*

Child-Friendly Calls to Action Resource

Resources for Youth and Adults:

Namwayut: we are all one. Truth and reconciliation in Canada | Canada is ... 
An animated video of Chief Robert Joseph's description of his time in residential school and his experiences of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission | 4:20 min runtime

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline 
​A video on the history of residential schools in Canada from the 17th century until the TRC report in 2015 | 5:39 min runtime

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Reconciliation & the Church

 List of united church residential schools 


grave discoveries/the children remembered
https://globalnews.ca/news/9216470/residential-school-ungraved-graves-canada/

Reconciliation and the Church – apologies and statements; calls to the church document; apology heard but not accepted. 
​​

Church's response to the TRC
https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/ucc-response-trc-calls.pdf 
(and the united church resources repudiating the doctrine of discovery)
https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/DoctrineofDiscovery.pdf
​
(post other 'watch dog' things on the calls to action​

Resources for Leaders:

https://kinshift.ca/workshops/  Learning opportunities! Two kinds of workshops ​