Reflections from senior leaders
On September 30, Vancouver Island University recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. On This day we honour the children who attended residential schools: those who never returned home and those who survived. We also honour their families and communities.
VIU encourages our community to reflect on the impact of residential schools. We all play an important role in the truth and reconciliation process – a process that starts with learning the truth. We acknowledge that this work can be distressing for some and encourage anyone in our community to access supports if they need them. A full list of supports is available on our Guidelines for Indigenous-focused content page.
Dr. Dennis Johnson, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
Wearing orange reminds me that reconciliation is daily work. It calls us to ensure Indigenous students are seen and supported, to learn the true history of this country, and to align our decisions with resources, policies and classrooms to that truth. It also means acknowledging that post-secondary institutions, including VIU, have deep-seated colonial roots. Indigenization requires collaboration, healing and foundational change.
As we commemorate Orange Shirt Day, we remember the children who never had the chance to grow up. I acknowledge the surrounding communities who may be reliving painful experiences, and the many families across Canada who were harmed. I wear orange so that remembrance leads to action, and so that every voice at VIU can be heard and valued.
Emily Huner, Chief Financial Officer and Strategic Transformation Advisor
Although I will proudly wear my orange shirt at VIU on September 29, I recognize that this small symbolism does not fully represent living the five principles of truth and reconciliation: political will, joint leadership, trust-building, accountability and transparency.
As a settler in Canada and now in British Columbia, I remind myself often that I must find ways to continually contribute to the healing from harm and trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples for centuries. In my role and portfolio of responsibility at VIU, one thing that is particularly important to me is striving to ensure our Indigenous students feel safe, welcome and included in our student housing operations and community life.
To me, truth and reconciliation is not a journey with an end point. It is always remembering the past and the harms caused by colonization to Indigenous peoples when I am speaking, making choices and decisions in my work and personal life, and my interactions with colleagues, friends and family.
Carolyn Russell, Vice-President, Students
For me, wearing orange shows solidarity and support for residential school survivors and my engagement in truth and reconciliation. I acknowledge the history of residential schools, offer support for the survivors and their families, and commit to the ongoing journey of truth and reconciliation.
Dr. Claire Grogan, Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Wearing orange is one small acknowledgement of the path to truth and reconciliation towards Indigenous communities that we travel on. It is a time to reflect not only on the pain and harm inflicted on Indigenous peoples but also to celebrate their resiliency and courage. My responsibility is to walk further along that path each and every day.
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