09/30/2026
Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are holding close the responsibilities that come with living and working in Unama’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq.
We saw one expression of that responsibility during New Dawn’s 50th anniversary gathering this summer, on the grounds of Eltuek Arts Centre. Traditional foods were shared alongside the rest of the day’s gathering, and at one point in the celebration, staff, families and community members came together with Mi’kmaw artists and knowledge keepers to learn and dance ko’jua together. Thank you to Sarah, Kalolin, Alwyn, and Oeli for sharing so generously of your knowledge, creativity, culture and spirit with us.
The name Eltuek was gifted through the guidance of the Eltuek Elders and speaks to what becomes possible through making and working together: something creative, relational and continuous. That spirit was present throughout our summer gathering. It was joyful and generous, with people moving, laughing, listening and learning from one another.
At New Dawn, reconciliation is carried through relationship and daily practice: in how we learn and gather, how we use language and honour knowledge, how we care for children, families and Elders, how we welcome newcomers, and how we make decisions about land, culture, work and community life.
We are deeply grateful for the people and relationships that continue to deepen our understanding of the history and cultures of Unama’ki, and of our responsibilities to one another in this place we share. Wela’liek.
Today is a good day to return to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and to the writings and teachings of the late Honourable Murray Sinclair, whose words continue to remind us that reconciliation requires truth and responsibility as we work toward a shared future grounded in healing and trust.
And as we move from the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation into Treaty Day tomorrow, we are reminded that these responsibilities are not held within a single day. We carry them with us, in the relationships we build and in how we live and work together.
Today, and every day, we remain committed to learning and to the relationships that make that learning possible.
📷 Corey Katz
