Elysia Christodoulopoulos – News Editor

Bishop’s University is marking the National Week of Truth and Reconciliation from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 with a series of events aimed at raising awareness about the history of residential schools and their lasting impacts. The week’s major observance, Orange Shirt Day, falls on Sept. 30 and will include a community walk to honour those affected by residential schools.

In recognition of the importance of this day, all academic activities are suspended on Sept. 30 to allow students and staff to fully participate in the events and be part of the university’s reflection and commemoration activities.

Photo courtesy of Elysia Christodoulopoulos

Earlier this week, the Indigenous Peoples Atlas Floor Map activity at the Dewhurst Tent engaged participants in an interactive exploration of Canada’s Indigenous populations and the staggering number of residential schools that existed across the country. On Monday, Sept. 29, the Reconciliation 5K run and walk to Otto Beaver Park invited participants to wear orange in memory of those who never returned home from residential schools and those who ran from them but were unable to survive the journey.

The National Truth and Reconciliation Walk on Tuesday, Sept. 30, begins outside Kwigw8mna at 12:30 p.m., proceeds through Lennoxville, and concludes at Coulter Field by 3 p.m. With academic activities suspended, students, staff and community members are encouraged not just to attend, but to actively take part, reflecting on the impacts of residential schools and showing support for those affected.

The week continues with a screening of the award-winning documentary Sugarcane by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Bandeen Hall. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers about the residential school system and its ongoing ramifications.

On Friday, Oct. 3, a Kwigw8mna open house and documentary screening at Centennial Theatre at 2 p.m. will highlight the creation of the space, including interviews and moments from its construction, sharing the vision behind this important reclamation of the building and the space for Indigenous community use.

Through this week of events, Bishop’s University encourages students to pause, reflect, and meaningfully engage with the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools.

For more information, see the Indigenous Student Support Center

Instagram: @bu_issc