Broadcasters across the country are joining together in recognition of National Indigenous History Month in an effort to elevate, listen, and learn from Canada's Indigenous voices.
The full day of radio programming entitled 'A Day To Listen' will be held on June 30 and will be dedicated to sharing stories from Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors, elders, musicians, and teachers throughout the day.
More than 400 radio stations from Canadian broadcasters will be participating in the nationwide event, including Blackburn Radio Inc., Corus Entertainment Inc., Bell Media, Rogers Sports & Media, and Stingray.
The collaboration aims to leverage the power of radio to enact real change following the discovery of the buried remains of 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.
The event is also being held in partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), which aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation.
“We hope that A Day To Listen, and the ongoing work that we do at DFW, begins a new chapter in our reconciliation journey so that no Canadian is ever shocked again by the horrors inflicted upon Indigenous peoples," said Sarah Midanik, the president and CEO of DFW.
Donations for DFW initiatives, such as its Legacy Schools program, will be accepted via text or by visiting local station websites. The Legacy Schools program provides educators with free resources to teach about the true history of residential schools.
For more information about DFW, click here.