September 27, 2026

Reflecting, learning, and getting involved: How you can mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

This Wednesday, September 30th, marks the sixth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Communities across these lands are set to gather to honour the children who never came home from residential “schools,” the Survivors who did, and the families whose lives were forever altered.

Their names, their languages, their cultures, their knowledge systems, their traditions, and their identities were forcefully and painfully torn away at these detestable institutions — and the impacts are felt to this day.

Indigenous Peoples have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and the knowledge systems that colonization tried to sever are the same ones that hold answers for the challenges our world now faces. It is therefore necessary to understand that reconciliation and decolonization are fundamental to protecting the environment.

At the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, this understanding informs our work.

Through our programs, we actively support Indigenous-led conservation and cultural revitalization projects. Through our community-led approach, we centre the knowledge, leadership, and expertise of Indigenous Peoples. We integrate scientific data and technology with Indigenous knowledge to implement conservation strategies that are more effective and locally relevant. We contribute to reconciliation and decolonization efforts, both here at home and abroad. And we are as committed as ever to learning — and to evolving, based on what we learn.

That commitment isn’t tied to any one day on the calendar. As we look to Wednesday, we understand that this is not about one single day. This is not about one simple task. The work of reconciliation does not start on September 30th, nor does the work end there.

As we approach the day, here are some suggestions from our Canada Programs team on how you can mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

FortWhyte Alive’s Day of Reflection and Learning: You are invited to take part in Indigenous-led programs to expand your knowledge of Indigenous history and culture. To make sure this important learning experience is accessible to everyone, admission to FortWhyte Alive is free for the day on September 30th.
Assembly of 7 Generations’ Reconciling History Tours: Join these Reconciling History tours, which are led by Indigenous youth, to learn about the role that non-Indigenous peoples and the government played in creating residential schools, and the lessons we can each learn from history to address contemporary injustices experienced by Indigenous Peoples.
The Outdoor Learning School and Store’s Cycles of Indigenous Learning Course: This annual, Indigenous-led course aims to help participants deepen their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, strengthen connections with the local land, and support more respectful and reciprocal relationships. (The course starts in November, and you can use code Cycles25% to get 25% off.)
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Lunch and Learn Series: These webinars provide an immersive experience, so people across the country can unlearn the myths of colonial history in Canada. From understanding economic reconciliation to honouring Indigenous leadership to addressing denialism, these webinars cover various topics — and are now available for viewing on YouTube.

Although the work of reconciliation must last more than just one day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation does give us — all of us — an opportunity to pause, to take stock of where we are, and to spend some much-needed time reflecting, learning, accessing resources, and getting involved. This Wednesday, we hope you can take the time to do just that.