30/09/2025
Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day should not be seen as one of remembering only the horrors of the past, but also of acknowledging the continuous dispossession, marginalization, and systemic oppression Indigenous Peoples face to this day. Despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, despite Bill C-15, Indigenous Peoples in so-called Canada continue to live under interconnected forms of colonial violence–from land theft and environmental destruction, to systemic racism in institutions, to gendered violence disproportionately impacting Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
Residential schools must not be understood as an isolated chapter of history, but as part of an ongoing colonial project that continues to shape the lives of Indigenous communities across generations. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) is a direct continuation of colonial violence. Rooted in centuries of dispossession, forced displacement, and the devaluation of Indigenous life, this crisis reflects how systemic neglect and state inaction perpetuate vulnerability and violence. Despite years of reports, inquiries, and calls to action, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people remain disproportionately targeted, their communities left to carry the burden of both grief and resistance.
Reconciliation, then, cannot be reduced to symbolic gestures or moments of reflection. It must be grounded in truth, accountability, and structural change. Remembering today means holding the past, present, and future together: honouring those who were taken, standing with those resisting and healing today, and committing to futures where colonial systems no longer dictate the lives of Indigenous peoples.
At Intersections, we want to emphasize that reconciliation is not symbolic, it is an ongoing responsibility. As long as Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people remain targets of violence and oppression, we must remain committed to confronting and dismantling colonial systems.
