Note: This was originally made as an announcement to my MAT224 class, but I am making it public so that colleagues can adapt this announcement for their own classes.
Today is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an important day to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities and reflect on Canada’s legacy of residential schools, colonialism, and genocide.
Events/Memorials
There are events happening both on campus and off:
- 2:00 – 3:30pm EDT. Hart House’s orange shirt day. (Free, but registration required) – I will be attending.
- “U of T’s Jennifer Brant on how Canadians can mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation“
- “Why Canada is marking the 1st National Day for Truth and Reconciliation“, CBC news article.
Mathematics and Reconciliation
Mathematics was one of the subjects taught in residential schools, and survivors report that it was used for evil. As a math instructor, I have a particular duty to reconciliation, by not only ensuring that math is not used for evil, but that it is used for good.
Some resources to help you learn more about indigenous mathematics and ways of knowing:
- Navajo Math circles . This is a trailer to a larger documentary.
- Their website with all kinds of resources.
- Adventures of Small Number: a collection of short stories and videos.
- Made at Simon Fraser University in many languages.
MAT224 class on Thursday Sept 30
LEC9101 is meeting today at its usual time (because Ontario did not make Sept 30 a provincial holiday), but if you choose to miss today’s class there is no academic penalties, and you can make up for it by:
- You can watch the posted recording any time after class.
- You can attend the LEC9102 section on Friday October 1 from 3pm-4pm (it will be covering the same material). Zoom link details here.
- You can ask me any questions on Piazza or in office hours.
Mental Health Supports
These events may be triggering for some people.
- MySSP.
- MySSP provides U of T international students with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24 hour support at no cost to you.
- List of mental health resources is also included at that link.
- A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
