Looking for ways to contribute to truth and reconciliation?

On Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., a table holding small cutouts of orange T-shirts will be located at the entrance of the E-building.

Students can write their pledge to further truth and reconciliation efforts on those cutouts, according to the Students’ Association.

Alain Cyr-Russo, senior manager for the SA, said students are also welcome to take cutouts home for friends and family.

The SA said it wants to create a “wall of commitment” on the pillars of the student commons.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for students to engage on a meaningful level with reconciliation,” said Tatanisha Riggan, the SA’s equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator.

Riggan said not everyone fully understands reconciliation and that it can be intimidating to know what to say or how to act.

To help, the SA is hanging examples of things a student could do for their pledge.

“Learn a traditional Indigenous recipe and share it with friends and family,” reads one example. “Watch an Indigenous film or documentary,” reads another.

“We wanted to make it less intimidating and more straightforward to know that even in your everyday life, you can contribute towards reconciliation,” said Riggan.

Riggan said when a large group takes many small steps, it can be quite impactful.

“It goes a long way in upping our knowledge of the Indigenous peoples of the area and their history,” said Riggan.

The SA is offering students the opportunity to complete one of their example pledges with their screening of Indian Horse in partnership with the Mamidosewin Centre.

The movie is fictional and follows the journey of Saul Indian Horse, an Ojibwe boy taken from his home and placed in a residential school.

The screening is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 in Room E133.