Join us as we mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30, 2021

To mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, you are invited to join SFU Surrey, in partnership with the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) and the City of Surrey, for an afternoon of stories, tea, bannock and drumming. 

Join us on September 30 at 1:30 PM at the entrance of the new building (SRYE) to be part of a drumming procession to Holland Park. The event will take place in Holland Park from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, rain or shine. We encourage you to wear an item of orange clothing and bring your drum if you have one!

SFU President Joy Johnson and SFU student Len Pierre from Katzie First Nation will provide remarks. The program will also include an Indigenous First Nations welcome, drumming, singing and poetry by Kwantlen First Nation artist, Joseph A. Dandurand.

Background

Recently known as Orange Shirt Day, September 30 is a day that is meant to recognize the tragic history of loss, and the lasting effects of Canada’s residential school system. 

This year, SFU’s annual campus-wide events and activities for faculty, staff and students to commemorate Orange Shirt Day, and the ongoing work to advance reconciliation within the university, will take place during the week of September 27. The institutional events’ scope will reflect the Provincial Health Office’s COVID guidelines at that time.

Note: As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be formally recognized as a provincial and federal statutory holiday, SFU will cancel all classes and suspend non-essential campus services on Thursday, September 30, 2021. University employees normally entitled to federal and provincial statutory holidays will receive this day off.