Helping students understand Truth and Reconciliation

In the past week, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee at Cambrian College has focused on educating students and staff so they can truly understand the meaning of the national day on Monday.

This is the first year Cambrian College did not hand out orange T-shirts.

"Instead, we wanted to provide teachings and education rather than just an object for students," said Kate Keaney, Cambrian College student council president.

"Especially being in an educational environment, we found it was more important to provide the education (about) why we are here and why we are talking about Orange T-shirt Day."

Another educational tool is a trail at the college featuring signs about the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and what the school is doing to deliver on those.

Cambrian has adopted 14 of them.

"Specifically, let's say in health care," said Dan Lessard, Cambrian College communications manager.

"Throughout our health-care programs, we have embedded things into the curriculum -- things like Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous culture, Indigenous values, Indigenous history -- because having an understanding of that is crucial to treating patients who are Indigenous."

Kate Keaney is Cambrian College student council president. (Alana Everson/CTV News)

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Organizers said they are fostering a lot of learning and respect.

"You could see that so many students and so many people were able to walk away educated and wanting to learn more about becoming an ally with the Indigenous community," said Keaney.

Officials at Cambrian said the educational efforts leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation have given the campus community a greater understanding of the past and the process moving forward.