National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On this day, we honour the lost children and the survivors of the residential school system, their families and their communities. This day has been enacted as part of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action No. 80 “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

We commemorate and acknowledge this tragic and painful history, the intergenerational trauma, and the continued harmful impact of Canada’s residential school legacy as we build towards reconciliation. We acknowledge Canada’s colonial past and continued systemic colonial influences that have eroded Indigenous communities and destroyed ways of life and connections to land.

The effects of colonization and the legacy of residential schools are significantly part of the social determinants of Indigenous health. When health is viewed through a holistic lens, we understand how the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual work together to achieve optimal wellness and balance. Dementia in Indigenous communities is affected by the historical and continued impact of colonialism, and while in Canada there is no Indigenous word for dementia, its presence has become a growing concern as more people are living longer and, in some cases, getting dementia at younger ages.

As Canada works towards reconciliation for the effects of the residential school system, we also honor the resistance and resilience of Indigenous communities, and we stand by them to support Indigenous-led forms of healthy living and healthy aging.

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario is recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a time for reflection, and to learn. We encourage you to listen to our Dementia Dialogue podcast episodes featuring the Native Women's Association of Canada, where we discuss an understanding of dementia and the caregiving role from an Indigenous perspective.