Each year on September 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation commemorates the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous people in Canada. To honor this day, the South Region Parents as Teachers affiliate in Lethbridge Alberta Canada shared a letter with their families highlighting the Seven Sacred Teachings: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery [Courage], Honesty, Humility and Truth.
This National Day specifically venerates the Indigenous children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools as a vital component of the reconciliation process. There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harm caused.
Emphasizing the Sacred Teaching of Courage, families were also given the book Baby Bear Baby Bear, What do you See? by authors Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Courage is represented by a bear in some Indigenous cultures.
To continue the learning, this year, South Region Parents as Teachers families will receive a booklet outlining the values of the Blackfoot people, the “Niitsitapi” values. Niita’pitapi is one who is self-disciplined, responsible, honest, appreciative, wise, and compassionate. Blackfoot elders describe Niitsitapi values as those that make for a good and orderly life. Blackfoot values include spirituality, compassion, respect, generosity, courage, achievement, balance and harmony, community, thankfulness, and wisdom.”
The booklet provides space for parents to reflect on their family’s values and how they are teaching values to their children. The Foundational 2 Curriculum parent educator resource ‘Being Intentional About Values’ and the complimentary parent facing resources support meaningful conversations with parents about the values they wish to instill and uphold in their families.
For more information about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, click here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
[1] Source: Empowering the Spirit, https://empoweringthespirit.ca/cultures-of-belonging/seven-grandfathers-teachings/
[2] Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
[3] Crop Eared Wolf, A. (2006). Matsiyipaitapiiyssini: Kainai Peacekeeping and Peacemaking. Thesis Dissertation M.A. Department of Native American Studies. University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Alberta Canada. https://www.buildingbrains.ca/culture