Saturday, September 30th marks Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day. BC Conservation Foundation offices will be closed on Monday, October 2, 2023 to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.
On this day we encourage everyone on our team to strengthen relationships with Indigenous folks and learn more about their communities, culture and history. It is a chance to reflect, engage and learn about BC’s colonial history and how our laws and practices continue to impact Indigenous communities.
Over the past year, the BC Conservation Foundation has devoted time and training to become more educated about Indigenous peoples, their culture and history. As a settler organization of conservationists and land stewards working to make our land more inclusive, equitable, liveable and resilient; we are committed to collaborating with Indigenous communities and institutions to build shared understanding and transform the way we interact with fish, wildlife and the land.
We are learning about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) by reading and re-reading the 94 Calls to Action, understanding the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and learning about the values and protocols of the particular Indigenous partners and communities with whom we engage in this important work.
We encourage all of our staff and board members to use this day for reflection and to learn about our past while looking towards new possibilities with Indigenous people.
We have compiled a list of resources to provide background and more information on Orange Shirt Day. We encourage you to attend events in your local community.
You can find events near our offices using the link here.