The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, held every Sept. 30, is a moment to reflect on the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and communities.
It’s not just a part of who we are as survivors
– it’s a part of who we are as a nation.
– The Honourable Murray Sinclair
Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Wear orange.
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
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.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
Orange Shirt Day was established in 2013 to honour “Phyllis’ story, ” named for Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken on her first day at residential school when she was just six years old.
Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre is partnering with the City of Spruce Grove, Town of Stony Plain, Parkland County, Spruce Grove Public Library, Alberta Parenting for the Future, Native Counseling Services of Alberta, Lac Ste. Anne Métis Community Association, with the Government of Canada and National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation to provide a place for this day to be recognized and honoured in the Tri Region.
