Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led, grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
The first Orange Shirt Day was honoured in 2013, by the founding non-profit organization named The Orange Shirt Society.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harm caused. Their efforts culminated in:
- The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
- Apologies by the government
- The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- The creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The Commission released its final report detailing 94 calls to action. 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.
In 2021, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was observed, to honour the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada, 22 Nov 2024, retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
Here are some books to share with your children:
