September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It’s an important occasion to stop and honour the many children who never returned and the Survivors of residential schools, along with their families and communities.
On this day, Canadians across the country wear orange shirts to raise awareness. The Government of Canada writes that the symbol reminds us how culture and freedom were stripped from Indigenous children over generations and reinforces the idea that every child matters.
@hgtvcanada Do you have your orange shirt ready for #NationalTruthAndReconciliationDay ? 🧡 @Resilient Inuk #nationaldayoftruthandreconciliation #everychildmatters #indigenoustiktok
Vanessa Brousseau, an Indigenous consultant and ethical artist known as Resilient Inuk, shares some resources related to this day that she has at home in the video above. They include a copy of The 94 Calls to Action, books written by survivors and tickets for upcoming events and rallies. She also has an orange memorial bear.
“I hope to see you wearing orange on September 30,” she shares. “Every Child Matters.”
There are other ways to support the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, from community events to fundraising. Each year, the Peace Tower and the Senate Building in Ottawa light up in orange to honour survivors, their families and their communities.
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APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation are also presenting a 90-minute commemorative gathering at Parliament Hill. The event, Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, will broadcast in multiple languages beginning at 3 p.m. ET on APTN.
At home, you can also familiarize yourself with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and understand the activities that you can support to help reconcile the past. There are also multiple resources at your local library and bookstores, or you can visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation online to learn more.
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Your support can go beyond Orange Shirt Day, too. Support or volunteer with Indigenous non-profits, support Indigenous creators and businesses, invest time in listening to Indigenous voices on TV, film, podcasts or books, or attend local events and listen to Elders speak about their communities. Learn and acknowledge the territory where you live.
If you want to learn more, there are free courses at the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.
Wearing an orange shirt on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just the start. But by participating in and donating to communities, taking in the stories of survivors and hearing Indigenous voices, we can all do our part to create meaningful conversations and walk beside survivors and their communities to show them they are not alone.
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