A Call for Brescia to Reflect on Their Role in Truth and Reconciliation

Since the beginning of the fall semester, two Indigenous days of significance have taken place. The first was the national day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day which seeks to honour the continuous need for healing from traumas caused by residential schools as well as to inform truth as a key step in reconciliation. The second was National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.  

As an openly catholic university, Brescia has a responsibility to step fully into its role in reconciliation, recognizing that holding catholic tradition must include acknowledging the heavy parts of that history. As a Brescia student who strives to support and listen to Indigenous folks, I feel disappointed with Brescia’s action items this year. These days shouldn’t only take an hour, a minute, or an Instagram post. These teachings and healings must be weaved through the fabric of these days and all the days after. Simply taking a red dress to a tree and snapping a quick shot for social media is not action enough. Reposting a ceremonial dance from O-Week is also not enough. Next year let’s step into reflection, amplifying Indigenous voices and using the institution’s power to call on more substantial items. Let’s step away from social media squares and into our classrooms, offering resources and space for Indigenous students to feel heard in their university. More time is owed to this; it is too important to be brief over.

A tangible first step would be reaching out to the Indigenous Students Initiative on main campus to see if they have any specific calls to action and to see about attending the opening of the new learning space in November.

For support on campus, check out Western’s Indigenous Student Centre and the Office of Indigenous Initiative at (519) 661 2111 x 83240 indigenousinitiatives@uwo.ca & visit the Indigenous Student Centre at 1151 Richmond St, London.

Another fantastic resource is the Indigenous Students Association on main campus.

Thank you for reading,

See you next time!

J Beecroft (she/her)