Just over a year ago, the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children were found at the site of a former residential school. This discovery led the movement for change and reconciliation between Indigenous people and Canadians, marking the first annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to be held annually on September 30th.
September 30th was chosen to coincide with Orange Shirt Day which was inspired by a story of a residential school survivor that had her orange shirt which was given to her by her grandmother taken away by a school official. (Story of Orange Shirt Day, 1)
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a time to reflect and recognize the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, their families, and survivors. This day provides an opportunity for Canadians to educate themselves about the tragic past in our country and the impact it had on Indigenous individuals and their communities, while also opening up the discussion for change going forward.
If you would like to learn more about Indigenous culture or if you are a part of the Indigenous community there are many organizations within Simcoe Muskoka that provide support services and educational programming.
Barrie Native Friendship Centre
The Barrie Native Friendship Centre was established in 1987 and expanded quickly, leading to the location on Bayfield St where you will see murals covering the walls. Their mission is to improve quality of life for all Indigenous people in the area and provide a gathering place that promotes unity. (About BNFC, 1) They have set up a variety of culturally based programs, services and teachings to reflect their mission. Most of their programs are geared toward the Indigenous community, but they do host a variety of events that are open to everyone, and encourage participation from the community to learn more about what they do at BNFC.
Barrie and Native Advisory Circle
The Barrie and Native Advisory Circle is another local organization that serves as a regional social health and planning organization functioning as an incubator of ideas in areas where a strong regional voice is needed. They believe in concepts of lifelong learning, self-determination and community participation. (About BANAC, 1)
Georgian College Indigenous Support Services
For Indigenous students looking to attend post-secondary, Georgian College also has a variety of Indigenous services designed to support students through the process of applying and post-secondary experience. The Indigenous Resource Center has been setup at each Georgian College location to provide a culturally supportive and comforting environment for students to study, socialize and access a variety of services. There are also a few mentor programs offered to Indigenous students as well like the visiting elder programs which provides holistic and spiritual guidance, and traditional teachings. Additionally, the peer mentor program focuses on support through the transition to post-secondary. (Indigenous services, 1)
A list of Indigenous-owned businesses in Simcoe County to support:
- Northern Mixtures
- Aboriginal Building Construction Services
- Biskane
- Marlene Finn Wolfman Consulting
-The BDAR Team