Okanagan College Kelowna campus (photo courtesy of Okanagan College)

By Liam Verster

Week of Events

Okanagan College celebrates National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 22, 2022 | 8:00 AM

Okanagan College will be celebrating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a week of events online and at its campuses throughout the region.

The college will hold five events, starting with a Jingle Dance a the Penticton campus on Thursday, Sept. 22. The event will feature Jingle Dress Dancer and former OC student Janessa Lambert guiding a celebration of the history of Jingle Dance, etiquette and format of a powwow. The event will also teach attendants how regalia is made and offer people a chance to learn the dance. The Jingle Dance event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the Kelowna campus will host the 13th annual Youth Exhibition Powwow, organized by Indigenous Services. The event will feature drummers from nations throughout Turtle Island as they establish the beat for Traditional, Chicken, Grass, Fancy, Jingle and Hoop Dancers. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m., with dancing going through the day. The closing ceremony and feast is scheduled for 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, OC will present a webinar entitled Lessons from the Field: Learning from and teaching in and Indigenous Community. Clinton Brochu from the Trades and Apprenticeship portfolio will share lessons he learned and advice for educators thinking of working and learning in Indigenous communities. The webinar will be held at 3:15 p.m. on Zoom, registration is required through the OC website’s events page.

Also on Tuesday, a screening and discussion of the film Indian Horse will be held at the Kelowna campus’s lecture theatre. The film is an adaptation of Richard Wagamese’s award-winning novel Admission is by donation, with proceeds going to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. The screening will begin at 6 p.m. with a discussion to follow.

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Then on Thursday, Sept. 29, a brief ceremony in recognition of the confirmation by Tḱemlúps te Secwepemc, and honouring all those impacted by the Indian Residential School system, will be held at the Kelowna campus. The ceremony begins at 2:15 p.m.

Additionally, flags will be lowered at all OC campuses on Thursday, and will stay down through National Truth and Reconciliation Day Friday, Sept. 30.

Along with holding these events, OC has a Pledge Campaign that allows people to demonstrate their support and commitment to reconciliation. People can visit the Pledge Campaign website and commit to read and act upon the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action. People can also add their own personal commitment when making their pledge.

The college acknowledges that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can be an emotional time for people, and services are available for those in need.

• National crisis line 1-866-925-4419
• The KUU-US Crisis Line Society (in B.C.) 1-800-588-8717 or online
  • KUU-US Youth Line 250-723-2040
  • KUU-US Adult Line 250-723-4050
• First Nations Health Authority Mental Health Benefit
• OC Counselling Services (students)
• OC Employee and Family Assistance Program

“The Indian Residential School System in Canada and the legacy of that system continues in the lived experience of trauma still felt by survivors, their families and all those impacted for generations into the future,” said Meri Kim Oliver, Vice-President of Students at Okanagan College.

“Our hope is that by holding time and space to acknowledge the trauma that exists and persists, to listen, and to learn how to actively support Indigenous members of our community, we will contribute to the process of healing.”