OC's commitment to reconciliation
Supports, resources and information regarding Okanagan College’s commitment to reconciliation, and working with and learning from Indigenous communities
Okanagan College respectfully acknowledges that our Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon campuses are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People, our Salmon Arm campus is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc, and our Revelstoke centre is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc, Sinixt and Syilx Okanagan Peoples.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Sept. 30
Okanagan College invites the community to take part in events and activities available on campus to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Coinciding with Orange Shirt Day on September 30 each year, this day commemorates the history and legacy of the residential school system, honouring survivors, their families and the children who never came home.
Events
News and notices
A ceremony held today at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus welcomed the permanent raising of the Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation flags…
Okanagan College students preparing for careers as education assistants are benefiting from teaching that goes beyond what you learn from…
The following story is being shared from Castanet. The story was submitted by the Community Engagement Co-ordinator with the Greater Vernon…
A message for those impacted by the legacy of residential schools
On behalf of Okanagan College and the Board of Governors, we extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to all of the survivors, families and Indigenous communities across the region, the province and the country who are mourning and experiencing the compounded sorrow, anger, grief and so many other painful emotions stirred by the confirmation of the remains of children buried in unmarked graves on the sites former Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Please know that the people of Okanagan College grieve with you, hold you in our thoughts, and stand with you and now in the future.
Access supports
Our hearts are with all survivors, families and Indigenous communities across the country as more news is shared about residential schools. Supports are available for students and employees:
- OC students in need of support are encouraged to reach out to Counselling Services or Indigenous Services.
- Employee and Family Assistance program.
- A national crisis line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students and those affected. You can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
- Within B.C., the KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia.
- Toll free: 1-800-588-8717
- Youth line: 250-723-2040
- Adult line: 250-723-4050
- First Nations Health Authority Mental Health Benefit
- Métis Nation BC Mental Health Services
Our commitment
Okanagan College recognizes that we are part of the educational and social fabric of the region and that we have both the opportunity and responsibility to support and empower OC learners and employees to be positive agents of dialogue, knowledge sharing and change.
Our mission is to transform lives and communities, and it is the people of Okanagan College who bring this mission to life. We recognize that this mission cannot be fully achieved without strong commitment to – and action toward – reconciliation.
Okanagan College is committed to full engagement in the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. OC strives to be a place where all students, staff, faculty and visitors can learn from the deep knowledge and traditions of Indigenous communities and from the effects of colonialism.
We recognize that communication, knowledge, understanding, awareness and action all play a role in reconciliation and lead us to a more inclusive, equitable and just society. We also recognize that the ongoing systemic racism experienced by Indigenous people of Canada continues in innumerable ways.
As many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across the country and the world have pointed out, the Residential School System in Canada is not history. It is not a relic of the past. The legacy of the system continues in the lived experience of pain and suffering still felt, and that will be felt, by the survivors, their families and all those impacted by it, for generations into the future. We acknowledge the trauma that exists and persists, and commit to listening, learning and acting in ways that support Indigenous members of our community in the process of healing.
Resources and information
In the days, weeks and months to come, Okanagan College will be listening, learning and looking for ways to engage our community in discussion that will guide our future actions. We recognize that Okanagan College students and employees will be at different points in their journey toward awareness, engagement and action on the path toward reconciliation.
- Indigenization at Okanagan College
- National Truth and Reconciliation Centre
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- National Family and Survivors Circle
- United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society
- Orange Shirt Day
- Canadian Network Spotlights - How Does Reconciliation With Indigenous People Work in the Face of Canadian Nationalism?
Educational resources and courses
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Week
- First Nations Education Toolkit, resource kit
- Assembly of First Nations resource kit
- Legacy of Hope Foundation’s recommended resources
- kinSHIFT – helping settlers cultivate relationships with Indigenous peoples and place
- kinSHIFT – Elements of Truth: Before Reconciliation
- IndigenEYEZ: Indigenous leadership training and facilitation
- Four Seasons of Reconciliation, Okanagan College
- Interactive map: locations of Indian residential schools
Podcasts
- All My Relations
- APTN In Focus
- 2 Crees in a Pod
- This Place
- Telling Our Twisted Histories
- The Secret life of Canada
- Muddied Water: 1870 Homeland of the Metis
- Kiwew
- Pieces
- Warrior Life
- Inuit Unikkaamgit
- Coffee and Quaq
- Spirit to Soar: Where We Come From
*Podcasts are available with a variety of providers (Spotify, Apple, YouTube, etc.)
Music
- The Halluci Nation (FKA A Tribe Called Red)
- DJ Kookum
- Snotty Nose Rez kids
- Prolific the Rapper
- Supaman
- Neon Nativez
- Northern Cree
- Inez
- George Leach, Sta'atl'imx Nation Blues musician
- Grizzlypaws, Sta'atl'imx Nation Traditional Singer
- Okanagan College Library - Indigenous Music
Theatre
Laura Michel, Secwepemc playwright
OC Library Indigenous reading list
* indicates book is available through OC Library
- Seven Fallen Feathers – Tanya Talaga*
- Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer*
- The Reason You Walk – Wab Kinew*
- The Inconvenient Indian – Thomas King *
- Medicine Walk – Richard Wagamese*
- Indian Horse – Richard Wagamese*
- The Politics of The Canoe - Bruce Erickson and Sara Wylie Krotz
- Writing of the Hamat'sa – Aaron Glass
- A Mind Spread Out on the Ground – Alicia Elliott*
- Five Little Indians – Michelle Good*
- The Truth About Stories – Thomas King*
- We All Go Back to the Land: The Who, Why and How of Land Acknowledgements – Suzanne Keeptwo *
- Storying Violence: Unravelling Colonial Narratives in the Stanley Trial – Dallas Hunt and Gina Starblanket *
- The Dispossessed: Life and death in native Canada – Geoffrey York*
- In this Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth and Reconciliation – Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail*
- An Introductory Guide to Understanding Indigenous Rights – Tracy Campbell (Can purchase on MNP or Amazon)
- Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples*
- Resistance and Renewal: Surviving the Indian Residential School, Celia Haig-Brown
- Namwayut: A pathway to reconciliation, Chief Robert Joseph
- The Dispossessed: Life and Death in Native Canada, Geoffrey York
- True Reconciliation: How to be a force for change, Jody Wilson-Raybould
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, Bob Joseph
-
TSQELMUCWILC: The Kamloops Indian Residential School, Celia Haig-Brown
Looking for more books? Visit CBCs reading list or the Okanagan College Library Resources for Learning About Indigenous History and Residential Schools
Books for children
- Shi-shi-etko, Nicola I. Campbell
- Shin-chi's Canoe, Nicola I. Campbell
- When I Was Eight, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- Not My Girl, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- Finding the Language, Adelyn Newman-Ting
- OC LibGuide - resources for talking to children
Recommended reading
- Okanagan College Library - Resources for Learning About Indigenous History and Residential Schools
- Okanagan College Library - Land Acknowledgements
- Okanagan College Library - Indigenous Languages
- Pulling Together: Foundations Guide – a guide for Indigenization of post-secondary institutions. A professional learning series.
- Indigenous Foundations - The Residential School System (First Nations and Indigenous Studies, UBC)
- The Syilx Indian Residential School Experience
- Take the Indian out of the Child - available for purchase on the Okanagan Nation Alliance website.
- In their own words - Residential school survivors talk about their experiences and the lasting impact on their lives.
- IndigiNews, APTN and news accounts:
Documentaries, films and videos
- In Their Own Words – Residential school survivors talk about their experiences
- We Were Children – Documentary film, stream via OC Library or Amazon Prime
- Reconciliation with Indigenous People in the Face of Canadian Nationalism
- Indian Horse – Netflix or available to stream via OC Library
- Maker of Monsters: The extraordinary life of Master carver Beau Dick – CBC Gem App or stream via OC Library
- Trickster – TV Series on CBC Gem App
- The Secret Path – Film by Gord Downie on CBC Gem App or stream via OC Library
- Experimental Eskimos - Vimeo
- Returning Home - Phyllis Webstad story
- We Were Children
Okanagan College recognizes that each community member has a vital role to play in reconciliation. Join us in reading and acting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. As individuals and as part of the OC community, we can each find meaningful opportunities to reflect on the legacy of residential schools, engage in acts of reconciliation to redress that legacy and advance the process of reconciliation in Canada.
A small action could lead to big changes. Pledge your commitment to reconciliation by signing your name below – if you’d like, comment on the acts of reconciliation with which you are endeavoring to move forward in your work, family or community.
Please note: OC’s core values include diversity, inclusivity, collegiality and collaboration. Pledge submissions will be moderated to uphold these values.