Athabasca University will close Sept. 30 to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

At Athabasca University, we prioritize our ongoing work of Indigenization across the university.

This takes many diverse forms: from student services to affordability, to respect of Indigenous histories, practices, and communities in our course materials; from research methodologies to our impacts and our systems.

I encourage you to join me in commemorating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by listening, learning, and seeking to understand more about the traumatic loss of culture, freedom and self-esteem from residential schools.

To honour this important day, Athabasca University will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday commemorating and honouring the victims and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. It is also Orange Shirt Day, when we are encouraged to wear orange to affirm that Every Child Matters and acknowledge the trauma experienced by generations of Indigenous children.

You can support and mark this day by participating in an event, wearing orange, or learning from our index of resources from Nukskahtowin, our Indigenous leadership centre which has the critical role of coordinating AU’s work with Indigenous learners, communities and partners in our ongoing efforts to foster kwayskahsatsowin (conciliation).

Further information about this important day and the work it represents can also be found through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alex Clark, President
Athabasca University

Banner image: A beaded AU medallion created by Alexandra Roy and Dione Rain of Paul’s First Nation.