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Today marks National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada, a time to honour the survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never came home, and commit ourselves to the ongoing work of reconciliation. Ten years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its landmark report, a definitive document that chronicled one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history.
Fraser Valley journalist Tyler Olsen, now a senior editor at The Tyee, has written an essential piece that revisits this critical report and examines why everyone should read it. More than 150,000 Indigenous children were removed from their homes and sent to residential schools, where they were prevented from speaking their languages and practicing their cultures.
The impact of this genocidal system continues to reverberate through Indigenous communities today.
Understanding this history is not optional for anyone who calls Canada home; it's fundamental to grasping the country we live in and the work that still needs to be done. Olsen's article provides crucial context on the residential school system and the commission's findings. This is exactly the kind of deeply reported, factual journalism we need, particularly on a day like today when reflection must be paired with education.
Read Tyler's article by clicking the image link below.
Please consider supporting the journalists risking their lives to document genocide by donating to the Gaza Journalist Fund. Every dollar helps cover evacuation costs, shelter, and basic survival needs for those bearing witness to history.
When we fund their survival, we preserve the truth and ensure these critical voices aren't silenced by displacement and deprivation.
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