National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The City of Burnaby is committed to actively working with the Host Nations on whose unceded territory the City of Burnaby is located, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples, as well as the urban Indigenous population who live in Burnaby. We’re dedicated to working together with Indigenous Peoples in a positive way to make real progress on reconciliation. Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation.
With respect, we present the following programs and activities throughout September in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
Schedule of events
Join Indigenous educator Lorelei Lyons of 2 Metis Women as she guides participants through making a small, beaded wheel while learning how to strive for balance in our lives. Participants will use the wheel as a tool for learning, contemplating and understanding their
personal journey towards holistic wellbeing, as well as balancing the Physical/Mental/Social/Spiritual self. This program is free, but registration is required.
Monday, September 8, 5:30-7:30pm
Bob Prittie Metrotown (Program Room)
6100 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby
Free underground parking
Join us for a free introductory workshop to gain a better understanding of Indigenous Peoples, history, rights and title. Play a meaningful role in the ongoing journey of reconciliation in Canada. Everyone is welcome, but seating is limited.
Tuesday, September 9 | 1:30–3 pm
Bob Prittie Metrotown Library (Program Room)
6100 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby
Free underground parking
Thank you to our partner: MOSAIC
A Canadian film, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, is a quiet, realistic drama. The film follows two Indigenous women who, shaped by different lives, meet by chance as they navigate the aftermath of domestic abuse. Following the screening, join us
for a discussion where you can engage and reflect on the themes inspiring the film.
September 12, 7 pm
Location: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Avenue
Tickets: $25
Join the Third Annual City of Burnaby Hope and Health Community Camp in honor of Truth and Reconciliation.
September 13, 10 am-1 pm
Location: Burnaby Lake Sports Complex West, 3677 Kensington Avenue
Open to children and youth ages 3 to 18 years
This one-day soccer camp features cultural teachings, training sessions with coaches, mentors and traditional knowledge keepers. Enjoy a fun day of soccer skills, drills and challenges for children and youth of all soccer abilities, as well as arts, crafts, face painting and bouncy castles. It's an opportunity for children and youth to engage in the path to reconciliation. The event is presented in partnership with the Hope and Health Society.
Every participant receives a free custom designed orange jersey and soccer ball. Lunch will be provided for participants at 12:30 pm after a closing ceremony.
The event is free, but pre-registration is required. No drop-ins.
Thank you to our community partners:
About the jersey and soccer ball design
All participants will receive a custom designed orange soccer jersey and soccer ball. The design Eagle's Embrace represents the spirit of soccer and depicts an eagle embracing the sport.
The artist, Candace Thomas, is a proud member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and part of the Coast Salish community of artists. She is the great-granddaughter of the late Chief Dan George who inspired Candy from a young age to follow her talent through her artwork. Candy has a deep connection to the land and waters that surround her home community. Using this gives her strength and inspiration which she uses in her unique designs. Through her community, she stays connected to her ancestors who guide her on her path forward, staying healthy and happy. She hopes to encourage the younger generation to pick up a paint brush or a coloured pencil and share their artistic talents. She would like to acknowledge her teachers Damien George TWN, the late Dan Thomas TWN and Rick Harry of Squamish Nation.
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
2024 City of Burnaby's Hope and Health Community Camp
Blackfoot star lore is an aspect of storytelling that has passed on knowledge from ancient times until today. In this talk, award-winning author Eldon Yellowhorn explores the Blackfoot Skyworld to reconsider the myths about the star. He will illustrate the astronomical
knowledge contained in the old stories and what they tell us. This program is free, but registration is required.
Monday, September 15, 6-7:30 pm
Bob Prittie Metrotown (Program Room)
6100 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby
Free underground parking
Join the Edmonds Senior Society as they host a screening of the award winning documentary “Forbidden Music” which explores the extraordinary lives of Kwakwaka’wakw Chief Mungo Martin and Jewish etho-musicologist Ida Halpern. Producer Barbara Hager will be present for the viewing of her acclaimed film. Following the viewing of the film (just over an hour) refreshments will be served and three games of bingo will be played for prizes.
Tuesday, September 23 | 1:15-3:15 pm
Edmonds Community Centre, Active Studio
19 years +
Admission: $2
Read The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, then meet with others to share thoughts and impressions in a librarian-led discussion. As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds. She considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value. This program is free, but registration is required.
Wednesday, October 22, 6-7:30 pm
McGill Library (Community Room)
4595 Albert St., Burnaby
Free parking
Additional ways we're supporting Truth and Reconciliation
Presencing showcases a selection of works on paper from the Salish Weave Collection. Dedicated to celebrating the resurgence of Coast Salish art forms, the Salish Weave Collection features emerging and established artists who draw upon traditions in Salish art while
expanding conventions and working within contemporary contexts. Highlighting works by esteemed artists Andy Everson, lessLIE, John Marston, Luke Marston, Johnny Maynard Junior, Chris Paul and Dylan Thomas, this exhibition asserts a diversity of approaches to visual storytelling of Coast Salish life, history and worldviews.
Displayed until September 16
Bob Prittie Metrotown Library
6100 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby
Free underground parking
Explore artworks by Indigenous artists from the City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection. These artworks explore the realities and impacts of residential schools on Indigenous peoples, alongside depictions of Indigenous resurgence that has survived despite colonial harm. The display includes artworks by notable artists Sonny Assu, Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Robert Davidson, Marcy Friesen, Roy Henry Vickers, Michelle Sound, Janice Toulouse and Tania Willard.
Incorporated into the display are books written by Indigenous authors from the Burnaby Public Library collections. Books by Indigenous authors provide an opportunity to learn about diverse Indigenous cultures, histories and perspectives which are often marginalized or misrepresented in mainstream narratives. These stories provide insights into the experiences of Indigenous peoples, challenging stereotypes and promoting a deeper understanding of reconciliation.
This beautiful hummingbird pin and colouring sheet symbolizes our dedication to advance reconciliation and acknowledge the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada. To honour children who never returned, and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present and build a future rooted in mutual respect and understanding.
Pick up your free commemorative pin at Burnaby City Hall or any Burnaby recreation centre or library.*
*Limited quantities. Only while supplies last.
About Hummingbird’s Embrace and the artist
Designed by Indigenous artist Ryan Johnston, Hummingbird’s Embrace features a hummingbird, soaring in the wind, with its gaze fixed upon a heart. In Coast Salish culture, the hummingbird is a symbol of peace, love, and healing. It teaches us to appreciate the miracles of life and encourages us to focus on positivity amidst challenges. By embodying the spirit of joy and resilience, the hummingbird serves as a messenger, bridging the human and spirit worlds. Reminding us that comfort and healing are always within reach.
Ryan Johnston, an interdisciplinary artist and athlete of mixed Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Celtic descent, merges traditional Coast Salish artistry with contemporary expressions. His work is deeply rooted in the stories and traditions of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community, and he draws inspiration from the natural world and the dynamic movements within it. Ryan's passion for both art and extreme sports reflects his commitment to creating positive change within his community and informs his vision for reconciliation through this design.
We’re lighting up City Hall orange on September 30 to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada and to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
We invite and welcome the ongoing involvement of artists from Host Nations in shaping the nature of public art in Burnaby. Artists bring knowledge and lived experience to their work, and public art created by Indigenous artists reflect a range of practices and perspectives.
Explore Indigeous public art in Burnaby.
Join us in creating an orange shirt to incorporate in our City Hall display
Create an orange shirt craft to be incorporated into the display at City Hall this September. If you would like your completed orange shirt crafts to be incorporated into the community display, please drop them off at the Burnaby City Hall Information desk throughout August and September.
About Truth and Reconciliation
This year is the tenth anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) 94 Calls to Action. The recommendations made in this report were meant to address the harmful impacts of residential schools in Canada.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was created in 2008 to help Canadians learn about the history and ongoing effects of residential schools. Its goal was to support healing and encourage all Canadians—Indigenous and non-Indigenous—to work together towards understanding and reconciliation.
In 2015, the TRC published a multi-volume report sharing survivors’ stories and the lasting impact of residential schools. The report also included 94 Calls to Action—steps for governments, organizations, and Canadians to help reconciliation.
The Calls to Action most relevant to local governments include (but are not limited to):
- Establishing funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation.
- Encouraging libraries to commit more resources to public education on residential schools.
- Create/revise information kits for newcomers to reflect the history of Indigenous peoples, including information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools.
- Implement plans to commemorate residential school sites, the history of residential schools and contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history.
Learn more about the actions we're taking to promote Truth and Reconciliation on Burnaby.ca/Indigenous.