Orange Shirt Day: Truth, Reconciliation is a shared Responsibility

Today we wear orange to remember all the children who never came home from residential schools.

For us, who work hard to protect and promote our language, this day carries a special meaning. Long ago, colonial policies sought to erase, among other things, the languages of Indigenous peoples. A central purpose of residential schools was to ensure Indigenous children lost their languages and their connection to their roots. Many times those children were subjected to physical violence just because they spoke their language.

As uninvited guests on Indigenous lands, we are privileged to work so our children — and others — remain connected to Farsi, a language that defines who we are. Yet our work pales in comparison to the resilience of Indigenous leaders, who defied the odds to keep their languages and cultures alive in the face of cultural genocide.

We honour them. We know it is our duty to be allies in the path of truth and reconciliation. We cannot excuse ourselves by saying these atrocities happened before we arrived. We remain committed to learning, and to standing alongside Indigenous peoples who so generously host us, in their quest to protect their languages and cultures.

Today we invite everyone to learn more. There are many resources out there. Here are a few in Farsi and English:

• Welcome to Our Homelands (Video - Farsi)

• Indigenous Language Learning Tools & Resources

• Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada