A Message from the President regarding National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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September 16, 2021

To: All Members

Newfoundland and Labrador will observe September 30, 2021 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Schools will be closed that day to allow the entire school community, and the province as a whole, to reflect on the tragic legacy of the residential school system in Canada and remember and honour the children who survived and those that did not.

In advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Association has gathered some relevant teaching resources to support members in developing lesson plans or other activities in their classes/schools leading up to September 30 and throughout the entire school year:

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR):

The teaching resource collection of the NCTR contains English-language and French-language resources related to residential schools and other closely related topics. Resources organized by grade level can be found HERE.
Truth and Reconciliation Week (September 27-October 1) is a virtual event open to all Canadian schools for youth Grades 5-12. More information on the week and how to register can be found HERE.

Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) Imagineaction Program:

Truth and Reconciliation, What is it about?, available in both official languages, is a discussion booklet for students, which includes a selection of statements, stories and drawings received from Canadian students in Grades 5-12. The booklet is available free of charge to educators who have registered for the CTF Imagineaction program and can be found HERE.
To register for Imagineaction click HERE. Registration is free for NLTA members and the process takes only a couple of minutes.

Other Resources:

Speak Truth to Power Canada - Truth and Reconciliation Lesson Plan - https://sttpcanada.ctf-fce.ca/lessons/wilton-littlechild/activities/
Film created in partnership with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the Universities of Saskatchewan and Waterloo: Understanding and Finding our Way – Decolonizing Canadian Education
CTF Blog contributed by BCTF: https://www.ctf-fce.ca/blog-perspectives/reconnecting-with-the-land-restores-teachers-spirits/

I hope that you find some of these resources valuable for you and your students as you prepare to discuss Truth and Reconciliation in your schools and classrooms. Please also encourage your students to wear orange to promote awareness and commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

In solidarity,

Trent Langdon

NLTA President