How Do I Teach My Child About the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation? Tips & Resources
By Julie Diamond, OCT (Founder & CEO, Diamond Teachers Group)
Every September, Canada observes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to remember the history and ongoing legacy of the residential school system, honour Indigenous survivors, and work toward a more just future. For parents, this is both an important responsibility and a powerful opportunity to guide children of all ages with compassion, knowledge, and humility.
Below are practical tips for how to teach children about this day meaningfully, plus recommended resources. Many of these build on the ideas shared in our earlier blog, 5 Ways to Engage in Truth and Reconciliation Day With Your Child.
Why It Matters
Before getting into how, it’s good to frame why this day is so essential:
To acknowledge a painful but real part of Canadian history and its continuing effects.
To honour the experience of Indigenous peoples — survivors, families, communities.
To build awareness, empathy, and a sense of responsibility in children so they become thoughtful citizens.
To contribute, in small individual ways, toward reconciliation and justice.
For a parent-friendly overview of these themes, you can also revisit 5 Ways to Engage in Truth and Reconciliation Day With Your Child, which offers a practical starting point.
Tips for Teaching Children
Start with Your Own Learning
The first step is educating yourself. When you understand the history of residential schools, colonial policies like the Indian Act, and intergenerational trauma, you’re better prepared to guide your child with care and accuracy.Use Age-Appropriate Stories & Media
For younger children, stories like Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell or When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson make the history personal and relatable. For older children, novels like The Barren Grounds or graphic novels like Sugar Falls balance honesty with age-appropriate storytelling.Acknowledge the Past Honestly
Our earlier blog highlights the importance of not shying away from difficult truths. Be clear about what happened in residential schools and its ongoing impacts, but explain it at a level your child can understand.Engage in Conversations with Care
Encourage questions and let your child express their feelings. Sometimes, reading a book together or watching a short video first can spark a meaningful dialogue.Support Indigenous-Led Voices & Initiatives
That could mean choosing books by Indigenous authors, attending local events, or exploring Indigenous podcasts like CBC’s Unreserved.Advocate and Act
Learning must lead to action. Children can see reconciliation in practice when families write letters to support Indigenous rights, donate to Indigenous-led organizations, or participate in community events.Make It a Tradition
Rituals matter. Mark September 30th every year with a family activity, such as a book, an event, a craft, so that the importance of the day becomes part of your family culture.
Recommended Books and Resources
Books are among the most effective ways to teach children about Indigenous experiences and perspectives. Here are options by age group, including lesser-known titles to broaden your child’s exposure.
Picture Books (Ages 4–8)
Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner
Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock by Dallas Hunt
My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith
Middle Grade (Ages 8–12)
Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie
The Pencil by Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula
Arctic Stories by Michael Kusugak
The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
Tweens & Teens (Ages 12+)
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David A. Robertson
Calling Down the Sky by Rosanna Deerchild
Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston
#NotYourPrincess edited by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
For Parents
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel
Decolonizing Education by Marie Battiste
Activities You Can Do Together
Read & Reflect: Choose one of the books above and discuss it as a family.
Attend a Local Event: Join an Orange Shirt Day walk or Indigenous-led gathering.
Create Art: Make orange shirt crafts or ask your child to draw what reconciliation means to them. Check out this digital Native land map.
Map Indigenous Territories: Learn whose land you live on and why land acknowledgements matter.
Listen to Indigenous Media: Try podcasts, radio shows, or music by Indigenous creators. A new Inuk show on CBC that I really liked was North of North. Check out these videos on CBC celebrating Indigenous Month.
Teaching kids about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a one-day activity. It’s part of an ongoing journey with one that involves listening, acknowledging, and acting.
Together, these small steps help create the future that this day asks us all to work toward: one of respect, empathy, and justice.