Monday, September 30, 2024 marks the 4th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the federally recognized occasion to reflect and honour Survivors, their families, and communities affected by the legacy of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. The Great Library will be closed in observance of this important moment of contemplation.
The Residential School system is not some relic of the distant past, with the last “schools” having only closed as recently as the 1990s – the impact of the violence wrought by Canada’s colonial past is very much ongoing. We understand that our taking part in this commemoration is a symbolic gesture, one that must be bolstered by consistent action every other day of the year.
To that end, we have compiled the following list of materials within the Great Library’s print and digital collections, ranging in scope from memoir to textbook, which may support both staff and patrons of the Library in actualizing their allyship. These resources shed additional light on the history of Indigenous relations in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation process so far, and the experiences of individuals fighting for Indigenous rights within a deeply oppressive system.
Aboriginal Peoples and the Law: A Critical Introduction (Jim Reynolds) Great Library, 1st Floor, Stacks; KF 8205 R49 2018
“Can Canada claim to be a just society for Indigenous peoples? To answer the question, and as part of the process of reparation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission urged a better understanding of Aboriginal law for all Canadians. Aboriginal Peoples and the Law responds to that call, introducing readers with or without a legal background to modern Aboriginal law and outlining significant cases and decisions in straightforward, non-technical language. Jim Reynolds provides the historical context needed to understand relations between Indigenous peoples and settlers and explains key topics such as sovereignty, treaties, fiduciary duties, and the honour of the Crown.”
Truth and Conviction: Donald Marshall Jr. and the Mi’kmaq quest for justice (L. Jane McMillan) Great Library, 2nd Floor, Circulating Collection; KF 8205 M36 2018
“The name “Donald Marshall Jr.” is synonymous with “wrongful conviction” and the fight for Indigenous rights in Canada. In Truth and Conviction, Jane McMillan tells the story of how Marshall’s life-long battle against injustice permeated Canadian legal consciousness and revitalized Indigenous law.”
Reconciling Truths: Reimagining Public Inquiries in Canada (Kim Stanton) Great Library, 1st Floor, Stacks ; KF 5422 S73 2022
“Reconciling Truths explores the role and implications of commissions such as Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, particularly their limits and possibilities in an era of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”
21 things you may not know about the Indian Act: helping Canadians make reconciliation with indigenous peoples a reality (Bob Joseph) Great Library, 2nd Floor, Circulating Collection ; KF 8205 J67 2018
“Since its creation in 1876, the Indian Act has shaped, controlled, and constrained the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Peoples, and is at the root of many enduring stereotypes. Bob Joseph’s book comes at a key time in the reconciliation process, when awareness from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities is at a crescendo. Joseph explains how Indigenous Peoples can step out from under the Indian Act and return to self-government, self-determination, and self-reliance–and why doing so would result in a better country for every Canadian.”
We hope to see you in the Library soon.
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