Survivors' Flag Ceremony

This year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) ceremony at the University of Victoria centred on the gifting of a Survivors’ Flag to the university by Dr. Barney Williams, Elder, Knowledge Keeper, and Survivor of the Christie Residential School, who served on the Survivors' Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 2008 to 2015. The design of this flag was created after the discovery of unmarked graves on Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops) territory in 2021.

The flag was raised in a ceremony in the quad on Orange Shirt Day by Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Dr. Robina Thomas, Vice-President Indigenous; President and Vice-Chancellor Kevin Hall; Survivor and Elder Klith-wii-taa, Dr. Barney Williams; and student representative Mercedes Neasloss-Robinson. An accompanying descriptive sign of the flagpole was unveiled during the ceremony, and the flag will remain indefinitely raised in the quad across from the Petch Fountain.

In the morning before the ceremony, a sacred fire was lit and burned for the duration of the day’s events. Visitors to the fire were encouraged to write their thoughts and prayers to Survivors and those children who never returned home and place them in the fire. Once the fire dwindled, the firekeepers transported the ashes to Cadboro Bay beach where they were disbursed in the water.

Other happenings at the library for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day included a newly installed poster of The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in the BiblioCafe, and banners detailing the historical background of residential schools on the island.

In addition, Dr. Brian Thom, Associate Professor in Anthropology, and doctoral student Leah Fulton, have been working on a map of historical Treaties in the Salish Sea which will soon be installed in the new student lounge of the Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library. The purpose is to provide the UVic community with a deeper understanding of the history of Treaties with Coast Salish communities.

The library is also preparing to unveil artworks by Geena Haiyupis which will be installed at the Ask Us desk and on the glass panels in the new student study space on the first floor of the library. You may recognize the style of Haiyupis’ work as the artist who designed the works in the Cove dining hall in Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ (Cheko’nien House) and throughout Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House). We are grateful that Geena is working with us on these designs and are eagerly anticipating their installation.

The Resources for Truth and Reconciliation library guide connects visitors with library and web resources and is meant to foster learning. Visitors of this library guide will find resources on Residential Schools, Truth & Reconciliation, UNDRIP and many other resources to further awareness and understanding of the history of Indigenous peoples and Canada, and how we can work together in reconciliation today.

Learn more: NDTR Podcasts