Features

Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Remembering the Children is a 90-minute multilingual live event in English, French, and Plains Cree. Co-produced by APTN, CBC/Radio-Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and supported by Canadian Heritage, this annual gathering honours residential school Survivors and the children who never made it home. The event will be broadcast live on Monday, September 30, at 3 p.m. ET from Parliament Hill, on both APTN and APTN Languages and other broadcasters, with a French broadcast at 6 p.m. ET on APTN. It will also be streaming live on APTN news in English, French and Plains Cree. You can watch the live stream here. For those unable to watch live, the broadcast will be available for streaming on APTN lumi on October 2 in English, French and Plains Cree. 

Live News Special   

For our special commemorative event, APTN News will present a 30-minute pre-show live from Ottawa, hosted by Dennis Ward. Dennis will provide live updates from OttawaParliament Hill, covering the event’s happenings on location. In Winnipeg, Creeson Agecoutay  will host with special guest Geraldine Shingoose, a residential school survivor, joining him in the studio.  

Special 24-hour programming  

On September 30th, APTN invites viewers to engage with programming that not only remembers the past but also looks toward a future rooted in understanding, respect, and reconciliation. Tune in to APTN for 24 hours of special programming and to be part of this essential day of reflection and learning. 

To view a detailed schedule click here.

WaaPaKe (Tomorrow) – World Broadcast Premiere  

WaaPaKe (Tomorrow) is a deeply personal documentary by. Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin that explores the silence endured by residential school Survivors, focusing on themes of truth, freedom, and power. 

Night Raiders – Network Premiere  

Set in 2043, this story follows a desperate Cree woman who joins an underground band of vigilantes to reclaim her daughter from a state-run child’s academy in a post-war North America controlled by a military occupation. 

Rhymes For Young Ghouls    

A Mi’kmaw teenager uses all her skills to stay out of residential school and outwit a government agent in 1976. 

The Grizzlies  

Inuit students in a struggling Arctic town form an unlikely bond through lacrosse.   

Bones of Crows  

The story of Aline Spears, who survives residential school to continue her family’s fight against systemic racism.  

The Grizzlies  

Inuit students in a struggling Arctic town form an unlikely bond through lacrosse.    

Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education (Also airing in French)

Residential school survivors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers guide us along the path to reconciliation.  

Pour toi, Flora  

Airing in French, this story follows two Anishnaabe children who spent their youth in a residential school in Quebec. 

Reconciliation & Me  

Host Sarain Fox leads a discussion on truth and reconciliation with five youth allies. 

In Jesus’ Name  

Shares the stories of survivors who were forced to attend St. Anne’s Residential School in Ontario. 

Bones of Crows (Episodes 1 and 2)

The story of Aline Spears, who survives residential school to continue her family’s fight against systemic racism.  

Pour toi, Flora (Episodes 1 and 2) 

Airing in French, this story follows two Anishnaabe children who spent their youth in a residential school in Quebec. 

Spirit Talker (Season 1, Episode 12)

Shawn makes a strong spirit connection at the site of a former residential school near Sipekne’katik First Nation. 

APTN Investigates: Black Robes 

Journalist Brittany Guyot investigates alleged Catholic Church abusers linked to residential schools and speaks with survivors and a former priest.   

APTN Investigates: Orphan of Church and State 

Quebec’s Duplessis Orphans endured severe institutional child abuse, with some survivors being Indigenous. As time runs out for justice, Tom Fennario investigates their story. 

How to Commemorate the Day  

Commemorating NDTR is a reminder to support Indigenous communities year-round. Being a true ally means continuously learning, listening, and standing up against injustices. Educate yourself about the history, cultures, and ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples. Elevate Indigenous voices by sharing their stories, art, and activism. Respect Indigenous sovereignty and cultural protocols, and support Indigenous-led initiatives, businesses and media. Allyship is an ongoing commitment rooted in humility, respect and a dedication to fostering positive change for the well-being of Indigenous communities.  

Read more about how to support Indigenous communities in our feature and our fact sheet.