Every year on September 30, Canadians come together to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day is a time to reflect on the painful history of residential schools and honour the survivors, families, and communities affected by the trauma of these institutions. It’s also a call to action for all Canadians to engage with the ongoing process of reconciliation.
More than 150,000 children attended residential schools between 1831 and 1996 – less than 30 years ago. Indigenous history is foundational to Canada as a whole, and it is important that all Canadians properly acknowledge and honour that history. The harm caused over generations can only be healed over generations.
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013, inspired by the personal story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. On her first day at St. Joseph's Mission Residential School in 1973, six-year-old Phyllis had her brand-new orange shirt taken away from her. This small act of cruelty represented the much larger injustice of residential schools, where Indigenous children were stripped of their identity, language, culture, and even lives. An estimated 6,000 children died at residential schools.
Orange Shirt Day quickly gained momentum as a symbol of remembrance. In 2021, it became an official federal holiday as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day not only of mourning, but also of education, reflection, and commitment to the principles of reconciliation outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “94 Calls to Action”.
Wearing orange on this day has become a symbol of solidarity with survivors and their families. The color represents the children who were forcibly taken from their homes and the cultural erasure they endured. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the resilience of Indigenous peoples and the importance of creating a future rooted in healing and understanding.
Reconciliation is not a one-day event but a continuous journey. It involves acknowledging the harm done to Indigenous peoples, understanding the ongoing impacts of colonization, and actively working to repair relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which operated from 2008 to 2015, documented the stories of more than 6,000 residential school survivors. The Commission's work culminated in the publication of the “94 Calls to Action”, a roadmap toward reconciliation. These Calls to Action address everything from child welfare and education to health care and justice for Indigenous peoples.
While progress has been made, much remains to be done. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation serves as a powerful reminder that we all have a role in this ongoing effort. Whether by educating ourselves, supporting Indigenous businesses, or advocating for policy change, every action contributes to the greater good.
There are many ways to observe this important day:
Spanning generations, acknowledgement of the land is a traditional custom of Indigenous people when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes. In the spirit of reconciliation, ABM College acknowledges that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the îethka Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
As we observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024, let us remember the children who never made it home, honour the survivors, and commit to creating a future where Indigenous people’s voices are heard and respected. Reconciliation requires all of us to work together toward understanding, healing, and justice. Every child matters.
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