EVERY CHILD MATTERS
In September 2020, Canada’s History Society in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation published a special magazine for youth focused on reconciliation.
Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education was written for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in grades five to twelve with the goal of offering them advice and encouragement as they navigate their own personal reconciliation journeys.
The magazine, written by Monique Gray Smith, who is of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent, was divided into chapters, each based on one of the Seven Sacred Teachings: Respect, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, Love, Courage, and Truth. The magazine also featured calls to action so that young readers can actively engage in reconciliation-related activities both at school and in their communities.
Co-edited by Ry Moran, a member of the Métis Nation and the founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and co-designed by Leticia Spence of Pimicikamak First Nation in Manitoba, the magazine is engaging and accessible for young readers while also providing a valuable educational resource for parents and teachers.
The magazine was published in conjunction with Orange Shirt Day — the annual day of remembrance of residential school students, survivors, and their families that is held each September 30. In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Orange Shirt Day was turned into a virtual event that reached thousands of young people and their families across Canada.
Copies of Every Child Matters were published in both English and French and were offered free to teachers through online registration. We originally planned to print 50,000 copies. However, demand was overwhelming, with all copies reserved in just a few days. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from TD Bank Group, we were able to print an additional 110,000 copies. Thousands more teachers downloaded digital versions of the publication along with education resources.