Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Something that everyone can do to contribute to Canada’s reconciliation journey is learning about Indigenous history, culture, and land. Continuing our reconciliation journey also means connecting in community (I live on Vancouver Island on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (lekwungen) People), especially today.
Learning about Truth and Reconciliation is hard work. And it should be. The best learning is hard and probably makes us uncomfortable.
Check out these resources and share other ideas in the comments.
National foundations and learning hubs
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR): Based at the University of Manitoba, this is the foundational home for the truths of the residential school experience. The NCTR Education Hub offers extensive downloadable apps, lesson plans, digital resources, and online forums accessible to the general public, teachers, and students.
- Reconciliation Education: This platform provides interactive, engaging foundational online courses (such as 4 Seasons of Reconciliation) structured around anti-racism, residential school histories, and UNDRIP. They offer customized programming for individuals, schools, and corporate sectors.
- CBC’s Beyond 94: An interactive tracking website maintained by the CBC. It allows you to monitor the official progress of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, explore interactive maps detailing local residential school histories, and look at concrete examples of community actions.
- Whose Land: A web and mobile GIS platform designed to help users identify local Indigenous Nations, traditional territories, and community treaties. It acts as an actionable starting point for framing respectful land acknowledgments and learning standard protocols.
British Columbia specific resources
- Heritage BC’s Reconciliation Learning Centre: Provides an extensive “Ally Toolkit” designed to move organizations and individuals beyond conversation into practical action. It highlights standards for archiving, policy-building, and local partnerships.
- BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Cent res (BCAAFC): The BCAAFC provides localized resources, recommended reading lists, and public “Take Action” frameworks aimed at improving relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous British Columbians.
- First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC): Focused heavily on BC-specific curriculum, this site offers extensive classroom and public-use resource guides focused on the history of residential schools and local reconciliation frameworks.
- First Peoples’ Map of BC: An interactive visual map that helps British Columbians learn about the diverse languages, arts, and heritage of First Nations communities across the province.
