STUdent Savannah Simon on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Acknowledgement, Accountability, Amends
STUdent Savannah Simon is a leader on the pitch for Tommies Rugby and on the campus for the university.
The third-year scrum half with the Women’s Rugby team is a co-captain of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association entry.
Originally from Natoaganeg First Nation, she’s also the secretary of the this year, a group which works to promote Indigenous education, culture, and reconciliation on campus. This year, she said, the group is working on getting a mural on campus and setting up a beading centre.
As part of STU’s marking of National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Simon also served as master of ceremonies at a meet and greet at the Ted Daigle Auditorium for a screening of the award-winning documentary You Can Call Me Roger.
Roger Augustine, the former chief of the Natoaganeg First Nation, and retired regional chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island with the Assembly of First Nations, was in attendance.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The celebration of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation means a lot to Simon, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with honours in History at STU.
Asked what the day means to her, she too her time to respond.
“It’s a big question. It’s not just something that can roll off the tip of your tongue,” she said. “I’ve been asked the question a lot, and the answer changes every time. There’s a lot to cover there.”
“To me, it means everyone should take the time to reflect and understand that we may be ignorant to our own understanding of the not-so-distant past,” Simon said. “Truth and Reconciliation Day promotes acknowledgement, not only of our history, but also the voices of victims. The day represents the mending of a long and tough relationship. It’s also about those who are responsible taking accountability and fostering amends. At the end of the day, it promotes peace.”
Reconciliation and Rugby: Meaningful Opportunities through Sport
Last year, Simon was the only Indigenous player on the Tommies rugby team. This year, there are four, along with assistant coach Hope Metallic.
When Simon was named to New Brunswick’s Canada Games rugby sevens team which competed at the 2022 Canada Games in Niagara, Ontario, someone told her she was the first Indigenous woman in her community to go to Canada Games.
“I carried that on my shoulders the whole time. It was a very proud moment,” she said.
As part of that experience, Simon got to lead her first Smudging Circle, a ceremony which involves the burning of substances such as sweet grass, cedar, and sage.
“Combining rugby and truth and reconciliation is an amazing feeling,” she said.
Simon said she hopes to stay involved in rugby at some level—perhaps as a coach or a referee—for the rest of her life.
“It’s been a great outlet for me.”