Thanks to the generous support of BMO, the Centre for Newcomer Integration (CNI) at RRC Polytech continues to be a place where newcomers can build not just their language skills, but their understanding of what it means to live and contribute on Treaty One Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. 

On Truth and Reconciliation Day, we reflect on the histories, stories, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. For many newcomers, this journey of learning begins with questions: about residential schools, about the land, about the responsibilities we all share when we live here. CNI helps create space for these conversations, rooted in curiosity, care, and connection. 

Throughout the year, CNI offers opportunities to learn about Indigenous history, rights, and worldviews. These include classroom discussions, cultural presentations, and special events that help students reflect on their role in reconciliation.  

This year, Craig Fisher, Program Facilitator with the School of Indigenous Education at RRC Polytech, visited CNI to share his presentation We Are All Connected: Learning to Live as Relatives Through Water, Land and Kinship. His message invited students and staff to think about how reconciliation is not just a concept, but a practice; one that begins with listening, learning, and building respectful relationships. 

For many students at CNI, those words hold personal meaning. Many of them are also rebuilding their lives and finding new communities in Canada. Truth and Reconciliation Day reminds us that while our experiences are different, our futures are intertwined. 

We invite all students, staff, and community members to take time this week to learn more, ask questions, and reflect on what reconciliation means in your own life. Whether you attend a community event, read a survivor’s story, or speak with someone from a different background, every step taken in the spirit of reconciliation matters.