National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at York University

Holding Space for Learning, Action, and Healing

This National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, York University invites the community to come together to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on our shared responsibilities in advancing reconciliation. 

Community members are invited to engage in learning, reflection, healing, and meaningful dialogue. The many events held throughout the month of September create opportunities to consider how reconciliation manifests in our learning, teaching, research, professional practice, daily work, and personal lives. 

On September 30 at 10am the York community will gather for a panel discussion exploring reconciliation in action. For those attending in person at Keele campus, the panel is followed by the opportunity to spend time in community and reflection while enjoying refreshments and the Heart Garden installation at Skennen'kó:wa Gamig. 

We invite all members of the York community to engage with us as we hold space for truth, remembrance, healing, connection and reconciliation. 

Learn more about University events.

Read our Land Acknowledgement.

Events:

Community Reflections on Reconciliation

Community members are invited to reflect on how reconciliation affects or is incorporated into their learning, teaching, research, professional practice, daily work or personal lives. Reflections will be used as part of a Heart Garden installation on September 30 after the University event at Skennen’kó:wa Gamig. Hearts will be available at some in person events for community members to write reflections upon themselves; they can also be submitted through this website.

Submit Your Reflection Here

York University Bookstore

We invite everyone to join the journey toward education and reconciliation by purchasing and wearing an orange shirt. The York University Bookstore is a committed partner of the Orange Shirt Society, which will benefit from proceeds from the sale of the orange shirts.

Truth and Reconciliation Collection

York University Libraries

The York University Libraries team has curated a collection of books you are invited to read as you learn about and reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Truth and Reconciliation Collection

Resources

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports and Calls to Action (Rapports)
Read the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls final report (le rapport final de l’Enquête nationale sur les femmes et les filles autochtones disparues et assassinées), the 231 Calls for Justice (Les appels à la justice) and the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (Le Plan d’action national 2021 pour les femmes, les filles et les personnes 2ELGBTQQIA+ autochtones disparues et assassinées) that responds to the final report.
Read the Spirit Bear Plan (Le Plan de Spirit Bear) from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.
Universities Canada Principles on Indigenous Education (Les universités canadiennes principes en matière d’éducation des Autochtones)
The Assembly of First Nations: It’s Our Time Toolkit
Orange Shirt Society
Lighting the Fire: Experiences of Indigenous Faculty in Ontario Universities
2024–2025 Federal Pathways Annual Progress Reports
Indigenous Services Canada – Residential Schools Settlement; Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund
Office of the Correctional Investigator – Indigenous Overrepresentation Reports (2024–2025)
Ontario Human Rights Commission – Indigenous Human Rights Resources

Nisitohtamowin ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ An Introduction to Understanding Indigenous Perspectives in Canada is a course from First Nations University of Canada, with partners BMO and Reconciliation Education and is available free to the public until September 2025.
University of Alberta course: Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson massive open online course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous Peoples today from a historical and critical perspective, highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free.
The Indigenous Knowledge Implementation Packsack: A Handbook for Embedding Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Your Teaching
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – Treaty & History Resources
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto – Cultural Programming
University of Manitoba – Indigenous Studies Research Guides (2025 updates)
Royal Society of Canada – Indigenous Research Reports
Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) – Indigenous Knowledge Collections
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (Updated Digital Edition)

Toronto Public Library “Read Indigenous” List

Indigenous Voices Finalists & Recipients

National Film Board of Canada’s Indigenous Cinema Collection

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)

Art Gallery of Ontario Indigenous Collection

CBC Gem I ndigenous Stories Collection

CBC Books: 20 books to read for National Indigenous History Month and beyond

First Nation Communities Read 2025-2026 Longlist or purchase bundles through GoodMinds

Get more ideas from the book 52 Ways to Reconcile, available through the York Libraries

Watch an episode of APTN Investigates

Listen to a podcast – open our compilation

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) – New Resources Hub

Education & Outreach

Teaching Bundles

Truth and Reconciliation Week 2026

First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC)

OCAP® Principles

Online library

Reconciliation Education – Updated Modules (2024–2025)

Indigenous Climate Action – Learning Centre

The Land Back Campaign – Resource Library

Yellowhead Institute – Red Paper Series (New Editions)

Donate to a York Indigenous-specific scholarship or bursary.
Support an Indigenous Business
Write to elected representatives.
Attend Indigenous community events with respect and openness.
Read books, watch films or television programs and view art by Indigenous Peoples.

Support is available for survivors and those affected through the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066 or on the 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-925-4419. You can also visit their website here.
York University’s Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education serves all York community members by empowering survivors and providing access to needed supports. The Centre staff are available 24 hours a day at 416-736-5211
There are a variety of supports available to the York community listed on the Well-being at York website.
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line – Online Chat (New)
Hope for Wellness – Text & Chat Services (New)
Talk4Healing (Northern Ontario)
Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN)

IRSSS Services: Counselling, therapy, healing, coaching, workshops, traditional healing methods/medicines, etc. https://www.irsss.ca/services
Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 (available 24 hours, in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut)
Health Canada Help Line: 1-866-925-4419
Health Canada’s Northern Region: 1-800-464-8106
NWAC Elder Support Line Canada Wide: (M-F 9am-11am, 1pm-3pm): 888-664-7808
Métis National Council – Verification & Citizenship Resources
Citizenship & Verification
Governance 
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)
National Inuit Strategy on Research
National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy 
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
Policy
Research
Cultural Safety Training
Anishnawbe Health Toronto – Indigenous Health Services
Indigenous Friends Association (Toronto)

Live Streams

2025

2023 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Speaker Reflections Panel

September 28, 2023

2022 Reclaiming and Rewriting Indigenous Histories of the Western Hemisphere (the Americas)

September 29, 2022

2022 Reflecting on the Legacies of Residential Schools: What it means for our present and our futures

September 30, 2022

2021 Reflections on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2021

Feature Films & Documentaries

Download the List compiled by York University Libraries. All films are available to view with your Passport York login. There is something for everyone on this list - whether you only have 10 minutes or want to watch a full length feature film like Beans or Indian Horse.