09/30/2026
hiwus Kwa’saʔlahuet Warren Paull on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
?iy te kwayel, (Good day)
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day for all Canadians to reflect on the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools. For shĂshálh Nation, this is not distant history; it is our lived experience. St. Augustine’s Indian Residential School stood in our community for more than 70 years, and its impacts continue to be felt by our survivors, families, and future generations.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a holiday. It is a call to action. A call to remember the children who never made it home. A call to honour the strength and courage of survivors. And a call to confront truths that, for far too long, were ignored or denied.
The history of St. Augustine’s remains deeply present within our Nation. Survivors, families and community members continue to carry the impacts of the residential school system, while also sharing their strength, knowledge and resilience with future generations.
Now, more than ever, we are reminded of the importance of standing together with compassion, respect and understanding. Reconciliation cannot move forward through division. It requires all of us to listen with open hearts, learn from one another, and build relationships rooted in truth and mutual respect.
Reconciliation must be more than a word. It must be reflected in our actions. It requires governments to honour their commitments, schools to teach the full history of residential schools, and each of us to choose learning over silence, understanding over assumptions, and action over complacency. Wearing an orange shirt is meaningful, but it is only the beginning.
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I encourage all Canadians, and especially our neighbours here on the Sunshine Coast, to take time to learn, reflect and engage. Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Learn about the history of the land and community you call home. Listen to survivors. Attend community events when invited, with respect and humility.
Most importantly, carry this work beyond September 30. The children we honour deserve more than one day of remembrance. Survivors deserve more than symbolic gestures. And future generations deserve a Canada that is committed to truth, justice and lasting reconciliation.
In the face of the profound impacts of St. Augustine’s and the residential school system across the country, our shĂshálh people continue to move forward with strength and determination. We are revitalizing our language, celebrating our culture, supporting our youth and drawing guidance from our Elders. Our resilience is a testament to who we are as a Nation, and a reminder that reconciliation is not only about acknowledging loss, but also about recognizing and supporting the strength and vitality of Indigenous Peoples today.
On September 30, I invite you to stand with us. Remember the children. Honour the survivors. Learn the truth. And commit to walking the path of reconciliation, not just for one day, but every day.
hiwus Kwa’saʔlahuet
Chief Warren Paull
shĂshálh Nation
