National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2025
Acknowledging the Truths of our Shared History
HAMILTON, ON – Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we pause to acknowledge the truths of our shared history and the enduring impact of colonization and residential schools on Indigenous children, families, and communities.
We recognize that Hamilton is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, and is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. As settlers on Turtle Island, we carry the responsibility to recognize these lands, to learn from the truths of the past, and to commit to walking a path of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
This responsibility is both personal and collective—it is about how each of us chooses to learn, listen, and act, and how organizations like Lynwood Charlton Centre strive to improve our practices and relationships. On behalf of Lynwood Charlton Centre and myself, we affirm our commitment to acknowledging truth, deepening our understanding, and working alongside Indigenous communities in ways that honour culture, uphold rights, and support healing.
The phrase Every Child Matters is not just a slogan to be printed on an orange shirt. It is a powerful reminder that every child—past, present, and future—is sacred, worthy of love, safety, and belonging. It insists that we do not look away from the devastating legacy of residential schools, but instead face it with courage and with action.
Reconciliation is not confined to one day—it is a lifelong journey that calls for humility, accountability, and action. Today, and every day, let us remember that acknowledging the truth is the first step, but living that truth and fostering meaningful change is our shared responsibility.
Dr. Michelle Hayes
D.C.P., M.S.W., R.S.W., Interim Executive Director, Lynwood Charlton Centre
