Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Monday, September 30, marks the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day was created to promote awareness of Canada’s Residential School System, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80 – to honour survivors, their families, and communities.

Commemorating the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital step in reconciliation. People wear orange to remember and mourn the children who never came home from residential schools. The last federally-run residential school, the Gordon Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, closed in 1996.

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) encourages its staff to take this opportunity to remember and recognize the legacy of residential schools through reflection, learning, and participation.

Events and Resources

There are many events to mark the day and resources to explore, including the following:

• Sunrise ceremony at Pittock Conservation Area (Woodstock) (September 30 @ 7 am), hosted by Indigenous Solidarity and Awareness Network Oxford
• A Day to Listen: #DoSomething (September 30, 6 am – 6 pm)
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Truth and Reconciliation Week
• The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund (speakers and resources)
• Orange Shirt Day
• National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
• Indigenous history in Canada
• Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
• Traditional Territories, Languages and Treaties (interactive web map)
• Indigenous Ally Toolkit
• Indigenous Canada (free, online course)

We encourage everyone to make a commitment to take personal acts of reconciliation and will continue, as an organization, to expand and strengthen our relationships with the local First Nations communities.