National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thursday, September 30th, 2021, marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours lost Indigenous children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. It is a day for national reflection on the historic legacy and present-day consequences of residential schools, which is critical to reconciliation.
Reconciliation is the process of healing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians and addressing wrongs of the past. This requires building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, embedding Indigenous needs and perspectives in decision-making, and recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and the inherent right to self-determination.
Efforts at reconciliation must be guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. The TRC was conducted between 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of residential schools with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences.
The . The Calls to Action provide important direction for all levels of government, institutions, and all residents of so-called Canada to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance reconciliation. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.
Orange Shirt Day
September 30th also coincides with Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led, grassroots commemorative day honouring residential school survivors and victims. The day honours experience of Phyllis Webstad, from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, when on her first day of school she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. The orange shirt has become a symbol of remembrance of all Indigenous children who were violently removed from their families to attend residential schools, enduring experiences which the TRC has described as “cultural genocide”.
All 91Ƶ students, faculty, staff, and community members are encouraged to wear orange on September 30th.
Community Events
The events for 2026 will be posted in the future.
Watch, Read, Listen, Participate
- with Eddy Robinson
- by Jonathan Elliott
- by Alanis Obomsawin
- by Tim Wolochatiuk
- demonstrated by Angela White
- with Lyla June Johnston
- with George Neptune
- by Shaldon Ferris
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Bob Joseph
- True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for ChangebyJody Wilson-Raybould
- Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid
- Warrior Life: Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence by Pamela Palmater
- As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical ResistancebyLeanne Betasamosake Simpson
- by Siku Allooloo
- by Rita Joe and performed by Gabrielle Nebrida-Pepin
- by Jayli Wolf
- by Lyla June