Truth and Reconciliation Day 2024

What is Truth and Reconciliation Day? Truth and Reconciliation Day occurs in Canada every September 30th. Best known for its orange shirt and the famous phrase "Every child matters". It is a day to honor the victims and survivors of the residential school system, and to remember how it affected, and how it's still affecting Indigenous people, lives, and culture. 

The day aims to reflect on what Canada has done before, and promote thinking on what could be done now. The word "reconciliation" means rebuilding, and that is exactly what Truth and Reconciliation Day is about! It's about rebuilding the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and making our community a better place.

Why Orange Shirt?

We all wear orange shirts on this day… but why? The orange shirt comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, who attended a residential school at the age of six. Before she left, her grandma gave her an orange shirt. It was later taken away by the school and never seen again. 

The orange shirt has since then become a symbol of Truth and Reconciliation Day. The color orange symbolizes the individual experience of 150,000 Indigenous children that attended residential schools. 

What Action Can I take to reconcile?

There are many ways to celebrate Truth and Reconciliation Day:

1. Volunteer or Donate: Support Indigenous organizations that work toward healing and reconciliation. You don’t have to do a lot. Every bit matters.

2. Wear an orange shirt: Honor survivors, raise awareness, and let everybody know that you care!

3. Attend events: Local events, ceremonies, workshops… you name it! It’s a fantastic way of exploring indigenous issues, storytelling, or cultural teachings.

4. Support Indigenous art and culture: Learn about the indigenous lifestyle and how special they are!

5. Engage in Conversation: Talk with friends and family about the day, and engage in meaningful conversations of what happened, and what can be done now.

6. Reflect and Acknowledge: Take time to reflect on the history and ongoing impacts of residential school, recognize what the Indigenous people have been through and celebrate resiliency!

7. Advocate for Change: Support policies that promote Indigenous rights, education, and cultural preservation. Every voice matters!

8. Educate yourself: Knowledge is power. There is nothing more important than taking the time to actually learn about what happened. Instead of just sitting back and treating it like a time-off day, read about it, watch documentaries. You don’t have to do homework. Just learn something about it.

   
   

Every Child Matters

To wrap up, Truth and Reconciliation Day is a day to acknowledge the history and ongoing impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous people in Canada. It is a day to honor the survivors and victims of residential schools, and to heal and reconcile. It focuses on the importance of understanding the legacy of residential schools, improving respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and committing to justice, healing, and consistent action for a better society and a better future. 

Written by: Kevin Li

Photos taken by: Tony Liang, Colonel Gray Key Club

Reviewed by: Arabella Slote, Iman Saeed, Liew Gorman, Tony Liang, Zack Rayner, Ariel Wu, Nancy Milton

Published by: Ariel Wu