September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, though many people still refer to it as Orange Shirt Day. There is an ongoing discussion about whether symbolic gestures can be an effective means of creating action or whether they are simply symbolism. Robertson admits that he doesn’t know the answer to this question. However, he shares a powerful experience from one September 30, when he spends the day visiting schools and speaking with students….

Did you know that September 30 is now officially known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation? While many of us still know it as Orange Shirt Day, the day is about much more than wearing an orange shirt. It is a day to honour Residential School Survivors and the children who never came home…..

This week, we are invited to visit the site of a residential school. Very few of the original buildings remain, but the land will always be there. Stand on the site, look out over the land, reflect on its history, and imagine the children who were once there…

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada created an important space for Survivors to share their stories and experiences. By listening to their testimonies, we can learn about the history of residential schools in a deeply personal way. We can hear their voices, feel the emotion behind their words, and begin to understand the experiences that shaped their lives….

Robertson starts off the week by saying, “If you’re not laughing, you’re going to cry,” which was something he heard often in NDN country. His father would say, “When you cry, it’s pain leaving the body,” and goes on to say, “Never stop yourself from crying.”….

This week, we are invited to attend a demonstration or gathering. Unlike Truth and Reconciliation Day, which we can mark on our calendars months in advance, this is about making space in your calendar when an opportunity arises….

Do you know what a powwow really is? This week, Robertson invites us to find a powwow in our community and  attend one. 

Before 1876, powwows were ceremonies that could mark an alliance with other Nations or celebrate a successful  hunt. They typically took place once a year and featured drumming, dancing, feasting and healing. …

This week, we are invited to visit an Indigenous restaurant and experience Indigenous food.

Every family has food traditions. Food brings people together, creates memories, and can even bring comfort. Indigenous foods and food traditions are just as diverse, varying from Nation to Nation and region to region….

This week, we're encouraged to visit an Indigenous cultural centre or museum. It's an opportunity to learn through experience—by showing up, being present, listening, and engaging with the stories, history, and culture around us….

This week, we are learning about traditional Indigenous approaches to governance and how they differed from the systems introduced through colonialism….

This week invites us to learn about the rich history of Indigenous agriculture, a story that is often overlooked….

This week invites us to reflect on our relationship with the land and water. They provide everything we need to live, and in return, we have a responsibility to care for them. Indigenous teachings remind us that there must be a balance between taking what we need today and ensuring there is enough for future generations….

This week, the invitation is to create your own meaningful action toward building right relations.

David shares that when he first began writing this book, he often wondered if he could even come up with 52 meaningful acts to include. By the time he reached the end, he realized he had more than 50 additional ideas he could have shared. Sometimes, the hardest part is simply taking the first step…..

Week 27 – Donate to Support Survivors and Families from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing

This week focuses on supporting Residential School Survivors and their families.

For many Survivors, sharing what happened at residential schools was never an option. Many carried deep feelings of shame, had little support, and did not feel safe speaking about their experiences. As a result, countless stories remained untold for generations….

Week 26 – Take Part in a Smudge and Learn about Sacred Medicines from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing

This week, we learn about the Four Sacred Medicines and the important role they play in many Indigenous cultures….

Week 25 – Celebrate National Indigenous People Day from Robertson, David A. 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing

National Indigenous Peoples Day has been celebrated since 1996. It is a day to recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples, their cultures, communities, and the many contributions they have made and continue to make across this land….

Week 24 – Recognize Indigenous Innovation
From 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing by David A. Robertson

This week invites us to look at the incredible innovation Indigenous Peoples have demonstrated for thousands of years, and how settlers arriving on this land dismissed Indigenous knowledge, laws, cultures, values, beliefs, medicine, and social structures. In doing so, settlers stripped Indigenous Peoples of their rights, their land, and their ways of life while claiming they had no rightful place on the land they had inhabited for generations….