Orange shirt day has been declared on September 30th annually and is designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Chief Justice Murray Sinclair challenged all of the participants to keep the reconciliation process alive, and as a result of the realization that every former student had similar stories.
This date is held in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and wellbeing, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters. We have compiled some useful links and resources that you may wish to explore, as Orange Shirt Day presents a great opportunity to ground the start of your year in our shared history and the development of common understanding on how we can move forward together. If you have questions or would like further resource ideas, please contact a member of the Indigenous Education Team.