National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
September 30 marks the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, honouring the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis survivors of the residential school system.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation gives everyone in Canada a shared time to commemorate children who lost their lives at residential schools – and to recognize the hardships of those who survived, as well as the Inter-generational trauma passed on to their families.
For events happening throughout the region in honour National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, visit ThompsonOkanagan.com/indigenous.
More Information & Resources
Government of Canada Resources
Information on how and why the holiday was created, how the day relates with Orange Shirt Day on the same day, mental health supports, and how people can learn more about Indigenous peoples, culture, and history throughout Canada.
Orange Shirt Day Website
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 30, Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of Survivors.
BC Museums Association (BCMA)
The BC Museums Association urges Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast to use September 30 as an opportunity to learn, reflect, make connections, and take action in redressing more than 150 years of injustice.
This webpage discusses the history of September 30/Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and share resources to help institutions plan for the day.
Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) - 6 Ways to Effect Change
Indigenous Tourism BC shared a list of ways for Canadians to accept personal responsibility and take action on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. ITBC recommends that this day be a time of reflection that Canada is responsible for the deaths and suffering of Indigenous children at residential schools across the nation. This is a time to step forward as a witness to the hard truths, and accept responsibility to learn and change. Reconciliation is not just the responsibility of government–it is a responsibility that belongs to all Canadians.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007. Today, the Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.