As Brock University observes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to listen, learn and reflect.

“As much as the day is a time remembrance, it asks something more of community. It calls on us to consider what we have learned, how we are responding and what responsibilities we carry forward in our relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities,” said Sheila Cote-Meek, Brock’s Interim Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement.

Observed annually on Sept. 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home and recognize the lasting impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous families and communities.

“It is also a reminder that reconciliation requires more than recognition on a single day. It asks all of us to continue learning, reflecting and taking responsibility for the work that remains,” said Cote-Meek.

Throughout the month of September, the University community has hosted several events and learning opportunities for students, faculty and staff. With a range of different opportunities — from film screenings and bead and read sessions to an Every Child Matters flag raising and rock painting — participants were able to listen and reflect.

“These opportunities matter because meaningful reconciliation is built through sustained learning and through the choices we then make in our everyday work, teaching, research and relationships,” said Cote-Meek.

On Sept. 30, employees are invited to attend Living Legacy: Moving Through Generations of Trauma led collaboratively by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, the Office of People and Culture, and Indigenous Educational Studies in the Faculty of Education. The session will focus on intergenerational trauma and how it continues to shape experiences within educational institutions today.

“Our gathering is intended to create space for employees to engage in reflection and learning while also encouraging them to think about what they will carry forward beyond the day itself into their work. Reconciliation has to be reflected in our actions, our relationships and the decisions we make throughout the year,” Cote-Meek said.

Cote-Meek asked the Brock community to keep in mind that it is a deeply personal day of reflection for Indigenous Peoples. She encouraged Indigenous Peoples to take care of their wellness and well-being while asking non-Indigenous people to be mindful of the emotional weight the day may carry for Indigenous colleagues, friends, families and communities.

The Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Centre, in collaboration with Brock Sports, will also host a pair of Every Child Matters lacrosse games on Sept. 30, featuring Brock’s women’s and men’s lacrosse teams facing off against Toronto’s Varsity Blues.

The Centre’s director, Cindy Biancaniello, said the games wrap up a month of events aimed at highlighting truth and reconciliation. Beyond September, she encouraged people to continue the conversations that inspire reflection and provoke meaningful change.

“Reconciliation is not confined to one day or one month. It is a lifelong journey and a shared responsibility that requires ongoing learning,” she said.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, Brock will launch its inaugural Indigenous Strategic Plan. Cote-Meek will lead the introduction of the plan that will serve as a roadmap, guiding the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation and fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.

Throughout the year, Hadiya’dagénhahs hosts regular events and activities for the University community, including its annual Pow Wow in January featuring dancers in traditional regalia, multiple big drum groups and singers.