West Lorne Arena is a Finalist for Kraft Hockeyville!
The West Lorne Arena is one of the top four communities and has a chance to win an NHL game and $250,000!! Help us vote March 31 and April 1!
March 27, 2023
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2022 marks the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day created to honour the Call to Action as set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 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.
Since 2013, September 30 has been known as Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the tragic history and long-standing effects of residential schools. Check out this video by the Orange Shirt Society to learn about the origins of wearing an orange shirt to honour residential school survivors and victims.
For talking to your kids we suggest these resources:
Children's Picture Books in our collection:
Children's Fiction and Non-Fiction in our collection:
Young Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction in our collection:
First Nation Communities Read Award
First Nation Communities Read is an annual reading program launched in 2003 by the First Nations public library community in Ontario. First Nation Communities Read selected and other recommended titles:
- encourage family literacy, intergenerational storytelling, and intergenerational information sharing;
- are written and/or illustrated by, or otherwise involve the participation of a First Nation, Métis, or Inuit creator;
- contain First Nation, Métis, or Inuit content produced with the support of First Nation, Métis, or Inuit advisers/consultants or First Nation, Métis, or Inuit endorsement.
For learning something new as an adult, we suggest these resources:
PANEL DISCUSSION: INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON THE POPE’S APOLOGY
The papal visit in July 2022 resulted in mixed emotions for many Indigenous Peoples throughout the country. Join The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund on September 30th at 1:00 pm ET to hear directly from those who were involved in and affected by the Pope’s visit in Treaty Six Territory. Learn more about what the apology means to those impacted by residential schools, its effects on reconciliation, and how this will shape Indigenous communities and intergenerational relationships across Turtle Island.
Take the free Indigenous Canada Course
Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.
Residential School Timeline
Take a look at the history of Residential Schools in Canada.
The Survivors' Flag
Learn about the Survivors' Flag and what it means to actual survivors of the Residential Schools.
The Woodland Cultural Centre
The Woodland Cultural Centre serves to preserve, promote and strengthen Indigenous language, culture, art and history; bringing the story of the Hodinohsho:ni people of the Eastern Woodlands to life through innovative exhibitions and programs. Located in Brantford, the Woodland Cultural Centre is on the site of the Mohawk Institute Residential School.
Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction Books in our collection:
The Witness Blanket
Inspired by a woven blanket, the Witness Blanket is a large-scale work of art. It contains hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures from across Canada.
Here, you can explore the items and stories carried by the Witness Blanket. They are accompanied by the voices of Survivors who talk about the experience of being forced into residential schools. Their generous and insightful stories convey the reality of anti-Indigenous racism, colonialism and genocide. They reveal the ongoing harms caused by Canada’s residential school system.
A new interactive website allows users to explore Indigenous artwork featuring objects from every residential school in Canada. Includes a teachers' guide, a resource guide and more.
Hoopla Collection
Find ebooks, comics and audiobooks on hoopla!
Indigenous Voices on Libby & OverDrive
Check out the Indigenous Voices collection on Libby or OverDrive
Library Programs
Find us at the Dutton Dunwich & West Elgin events for Indigenous Storytime, details below!
Community Events
Dutton Dunwich Sons of Scotland Park & West Elgin Arena
Join the Municipality of West Elgin and The Municipality of Dutton Dunwich on September 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in Dutton or 1:00 p.m. in West Lorne for the National Day For Truth and Reconciliation.
- Welcome
- Land Acknowledgement
- Indigenous Storytime with Elgin County Library
- Don't forget to wear Orange to Commemorate and Honour
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