National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024

September 16, 2024

September 30 is recognized as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day inspired by the story of Indian Residential School Survivor Phyllis Webstad. When Phyllis was 6 years old she wore her new orange shirt for her first day at residential school. Her shirt was immediately taken from her by school staff.

The Indian Residential School system operated across Canada for well over 100 years, with the last schools closing in the 1990s. Indian Residential Schools were created to separate Indigenous children from their families and communities, and to systematically strip away their traditions, cultural practices and languages. More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from across the country were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools, which were often located far from their homes. Thousands never made it home.

To honour the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remember those who did not, many Canadians across the country wear an orange shirt.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at CCCKL

To mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CCCKL is encouraging all employees to wear an orange shirt and to take a moment of reflection throughout the day. This can include a walk, a silent moment or a break.

For many people, thinking about their relationship with the Indigenous community and how they’re advancing truth and reconciliation isn’t an easy task. With that in mind, our EDI (Equity Diversity and Inclusion) Committee has, developed a set of self-reflection questions to help guide people toward an understanding of their current personal journey. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions, they’re simply designed to help in considering your relationship with Indigenization.

  1. What will you do to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day?
  2. What kinds of activities would most meaningfully acknowledge and support Truth and Reconciliation at CCCKL?
  3. What kinds of activities should be avoided?
  4. What role, if any, should CCCKL play in future commemorations of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
  5. What do you think the term “reconcile” means?  
  6. What might reconciliation look like? Sound like? And feel like? 

Our staff will also be getting together on September 30th for a morning huddle to commemorate the day.

If you are looking to purchase an Orange Shirt, ensure that the proceeds support Indigenous communities and go to appropriate causes.

The Whetung Ojibwa Centre supports a designed by Freddy Taylor, an Indigenous artist and residential school survivor. All proceeds go to the ‘Save the Evidence Campaign’ at the Woodland Cultural Centre.