BCAFN Honours Survivors and Embraces Healing on National Truth and Reconcilation Day 2025

September 30, 2025

(Lheidli T’enneh Territory/Prince George, BC) – As we move into a new season and families send their children off to a new school year, the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) calls on all Canadians to pause and reflect on the resilience and strength of Survivors, their families and communities who endured the residential school system. As the legacy of the residential schools continues, we are challenged to know and remember the painful truths of Canada’s shared history, which is marked by profound loss, genocide, and intergenerational trauma. For renewal, there needs to be a collective commitment to healing and justice. 

September 30th is not only a day of reflection but also a call to action. It demands that all Canadians recognize the ongoing impacts of colonialism and actively support meaningful efforts toward repairing and strengthening relationships grounded in respect, recognition, and First Nations’ inherent right to self-determination. National Truth and Reconciliation Day reminds us that reconciliation is a continuous journey that requires listening, learning, and transforming systems to uphold our rights, languages, cultures, and ways of being.

As we gather in ceremony, storytelling, and community, we honour the past and boldly envision a future where First Nations thrive with dignity, sovereignty, and justice. On this day, we are reminded that only through truth and respectful partnership can we build a more equitable and principled nation that will serve all peoples for generations to come.

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Media contact: Annette Schroeter, BCAFN Communications Officer, (778) 281-1655

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