Shirley Cheechoo doesn't want to be recognized as a residential school survivor, a term commonly used to describe Indigenous Peoples who were subjected to Canada's horrific residential school system.
"We should be identified as residential school warriors," said the Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute.
"Calling us warriors, you empower us. You empower our children and you empower communities across the country."
Cheechoo delivered the keynote address at a University of Toronto event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The tri-campus event, held at Hart House on the St. George campus, was streamed live on YouTube.
She shared the horrors and abuse she endured after being kidnapped from her parents at age six and placed in a residential school. With a long-standing passion for working with young people, Cheechoo encouraged universities like U of T to partner with Indigenous leaders to fund and support Indigenous students and youth.
Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from U of T Mississauga, introduced Cheechoo at the event, while Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty's undergraduate association, emphasized the critical nature of the work ahead.
"There are 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. U of T has 34 of their own published," said Baghbanan. "Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought."
Attendees also heard remarks from several U of T leaders, including U of T President Meric Gertler and William Gough, acting vice-president of U of T and acting principal of U of T Scarborough.
President Gertler, for his part, said the U of T community is committed to advancing reconciliation across its three campuses, including by: expanding the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and librarians; incorporating Indigenous content into U of T's curriculum; supporting Indigenous research programs; and creating physical spaces that honour Indigenous Peoples' tradition and histories.
Flags were lowered to half-mast across U of T's three campuses on Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada.
Hart House Warden David Kim thanked U of T Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the U of T event, which depicts a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words "Every child matters."
After the ceremony, a sacred fire was held for U of T community members at the newly opened Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project near Hart House.
Earlier this month, U of T Scarborough hosted a reflective walk for reconciliation from the U of T Scarborough flagpole to the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail. In addition, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held across the three campuses, while U of T Mississauga live-streamed the Hart House event in the Grand Hall at Maanjiwe nendamowinan.
In his closing remarks at Hart House, U of T Chancellor Wes Hall encouraged the audience to continue sharing their stories, no matter how difficult, to ensure we do not repeat the past.
