The Orange Shirt and the Day of Truth and Reconciliation

On September 30th, Canadians pause to reflect on one of the most painful chapters in our history - the story of the Indigenous residential schools. This day honors the children who were forced into these schools, those who survived, and those who never came home. It is a day of memory, truth, and responsibility.

For more than a century - from the late 1800s until the 1990s - over 150,000 Indigenous children from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities were taken from their families and placed in boarding schools. The goal was assimilation: to erase languages, traditions, and spiritual practices. Behind the walls of these schools, children faced violence, abuse, isolation, and deep loss. Many never returned, and the impact is still felt across generations today - in health, education, and trust in institutions.

Between 2008 and 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) collected thousands of testimonies from survivors. Their final report included 94 Calls to Action - steps for governments, institutions, and all Canadians to repair the damage and build a better future.

Why the Orange Shirt?

This same date, September 30th, is also known as Orange Shirt Day. The tradition began with Phyllis Webstad, a young girl excited to wear her brand-new orange shirt on her first day at a residential school. That shirt was taken from her immediately - a small act that carried a big message: her voice and her choices didn’t matter.

Today, the orange shirt is a powerful symbol. It reminds us that Every Child Matters - that each child’s identity, culture, and future deserve respect and protection. The timing is also symbolic: late September was when many children were historically taken from their homes after summer with their families.

What does reconciliation mean?

Reconciliation isn’t just a holiday. It’s a long process:

For each of us: it means learning, listening, showing respect, and making choices that support justice in everyday life.

How can we take part?

Wear orange and explain its meaning: Every Child Matters is not a slogan, but a commitment.

Learn from the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, and find one or two you can put into practice.

Attend events in your community: memorials, workshops, art exhibits, survivor talks.

Support Indigenous-led organizations and businesses through donations, volunteering, or simply showing up.

Read and watch: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act (Bob Joseph), Seven Fallen Feathers (Tanya Talaga), Indian Horse (Richard Wagamese), or films like We Were Children and Indian Horse.

Talk with your children: explain what happened, highlight the value of family, language, and culture, and create simple ways to honor the day together.

The Day of Truth and Reconciliation is not about placing blame on the past, but about facing it honestly, and choosing a different future together. It is a reminder that healing requires both truth and action.

Every Child Matters. Always.