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Indigenous People & Culture

WE CAN OBSERVE AND PRACTICE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION EVERYDAY.

Formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established to raise awareness about the extremely damaging and lasting effects residential schools have on Indigenous communities. On September 30 each year, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike take the time to reflect on and remember the children that were abused and killed at residential schools. We also take the time to reflect on the ongoing generational trauma that is experienced by survivors and support them as much as we can. My HOME Apparel will not create orange shirts as we are not the voices who need to be heard - we support other local businesses and purchase orange shirts made by Indigenous peoples. Wearing an Orange shirt bought from an Indigenous artist or Indigenous-owned business is one way we can stand in solidarity with and be an ally to our Indigenous neighbours. 
 
 

FOUR WAYS THAT YOU CAN BE AN ALLY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ON ORANGE SHIRT DAY AND EVERY DAY:

  1. Support Indigenous artists and Indigenous-owned/led businesses and organizations.
  2. Amplify Indigenous voices and stand up for our Indigenous neighbours.
  3. Learn from Indigenous people in your community or online. Listen to their stories, hear their bravery, reflect on the truth.
  4. Learn about the 94 calls to action put forth by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and ask our politicians to act on, follow, and support these necessary calls.

 

INDIGENOUS-OWNED BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS

Some places you can find Indigenous-made orange shirts and wearable art:

Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre - Millbrook First Nation (Nova Scotia)
L'NU'K Clothing Co. - Millbrook First Nation (Nova Scotia)
Muin Clothing Co. - K'jipuktuk (Halifax)
Lucrative Apparel Esgenoôpetitj First Nation (New Brunswick)
Mi'kmaq Printing & Design - Epegwitg (Prince Edward Island)
Our Feather Clothing Company - Tkaronto (Toronto)
Dreamcatcher Promotions - Swan Lake First Nation (Manitoba)
Moonstone Creation Mohkínstsis (Calgary)
Boy Chief Trading Post - Siksika Nation (Alberta)
Victoria Orange Shirt DayS'ólh Téméxw (British Columbia)
Orange Shirt Society S'ólh Téméxw (British Columbia)
  
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On this page you'll find selected educational resources involving issues that impact Indigenous nations on Turtle Island, past and present. 
 

Indigenous populations in Canada face systemic failures inherent in our social structure that have caused generational trauma, disadvantaged living conditions, and innumerable other difficulties. The ongoing mistreatment of our Indigenous populations across the land now called Canada, and the attempts to hide, erase and cover it up leave us all as Canadians with a responsibility to mourn with these groups, and to listen, learn, and evaluate our own involvement and actions. We hope these resources can serve as an aide for collective improvement moving forward and encourage continued learning & action.   

How we are helping here at HOME?   

  • On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, we closed our physical store for the day; our staff participated in reconciliation events in Millbrook First Nation. That day, all proceeds from online sales were donated to Water First, a non-government organization that is working hard to solve water challenges in Indigenous communities. With the help of our customers, we were able to donate $1,100 to Water First! Thank you for making this possible!
  • We are actively committed to becoming better allies for our Indigenous neighbours by educating ourselves and listening to our local Indigenous communities.
  • We partner with Indigenous artists on designs that reflect their specific relationship to this land we all call HOME, which allows us to share artwork and perspectives directly from Indigenous voices.  
  • We are committed to actively using our platform to increase awareness on important issues and help to inform our customers and followers how they can personally get involved.

We can be proud of the place we call HOME and still be critical of its systems. Together, we can create a future for Canada that is supportive and inclusive of all its inhabitants. 

 

 

BOOKS, EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS 

 


Search for the following titles and more on your province’s Public Libraries Catalogue

 

Alternatively you can search the Worldwide Library Catalogue WorldCat.org or click the “buy” link after each title to purchase a copy for your HOME Library.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmermer [2020] | Buy

 

Brotherhood to Nationhood: George Manuel and the Making of the Modern Indian Movement by Peter McFarlane and Doreen Manuel [2020]Buy

 

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Bob Joseph [2018] Buy

 

All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga [2018] | Buy

 

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga [2017] | Buy

 

From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians by Ken Coates and Greg Poelzer [2016] | Buy

 

Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens by Pamela Palmater [2015] | Buy

 

Disinherited Generations: Our Struggle to Reclaim Treaty Rights for First Nations Women and Their Descendants by Nellie Carlson [2013] | Buy

 

The Inconvenient Indian: a Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King [2013] | Buy

 

The Colonization of Mi'kmaw Memory and History, 1794-1928: the King V. Gabriel Sylliboy by William C. Wicken [2012] | Buy

 

Mi'kmaq Landscapes, From Animism to Sacred Ecology by Anne-Christine Hornborg [2008] | Buy

 

Mi'kmaq & Maliseet Cultural Ancestral Material: National Collections from the Canadian Museum of Civilization by Stephen J. Augustine [2005] | Buy

 

Mi'kmaq Treaties on Trial: History, Land, and Donald Marshall Junior by William C. Wicken [2002] | Buy

 

The Marshall Decision and Native Rights : The Marshall Decision and Mi'kmaq Rights in the Maritimes by Ken Coates [2000] | Buy

FILMS, VIDEOS AND DOCUMENTARIES

Kamloops: Stories of Survival by ATPN [2021] | Watch

Systemic Racism in Canada: the Donald Marshall Jr. Story by Real Crime [2020] | Watch

nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up by Tasha Hubbard [2019] | Watch

We Were Children by Tim Wolochatiuk [2012] | Rent

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance by Alanis Obomsawin [1993] | Watch

Sleeping Children Awake by Rhonda Kara Hanah [1991] Watch

12 Documentaries on Indigenous Life in Canada | Watch

WEB RESOURCES & ARTICLES

ORGANIZATIONS/ACCOUNTS TO SUPPORT/FOLLOW

 

Are we missing an important resource? Email info@myhomeapparel.com to make a recommendation.