The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day on Sept 30 is the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, while honouring the survivors, their families and communities. The day was established in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

From the 1880s until 1996 when the last school closed, 150,000 First Nation and Inuit children were removed from their communities and forced to attend residential schools across Canada.

Commemorating Orange Shirt Day as a way to honour residential school survivors began after an event held in Williams Lake, BC, in 2013. It started with the words of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a survivor who had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school. The movement has grown and become a time to raise awareness of the devastating impact of the residential school system on Indigenous people and their descendants.

“Orange Shirt Day is a very important and special day. It is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. It is a chance for everyone to learn about the Residential Schools, remember all the children who never made it home and honour the survivors that did,” said OTC executive director Angie Merasty.

“My hope is that every single Canadian takes a moment to listen, to learn and to share what they have learned with others. Acknowledge the shared history, acknowledge that you cannot have reconciliation without the truth and lets all make sure that it doesn't ever happen again."

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line was created to support for former students and those affected. Residential school survivors and their families can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

What can you do leading up to and on Sept. 30 -- the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/ Orange Shirt Day?

Spend some time reflecting and recommitting to your personal reconciliation journey

Read the history of Orange Shirt Day

Register for events and learning opportunities hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Buy an orange shirt, ensuring you are supporting Indigenous artists and Residential School Survivors.

Attend a community event. Visit the OTC event calendar

Watch this 2020 video created by OTC  featuring messages from Elders William Morin and Shirley Wolfe Keller, and Speakers Bureau members Lyndon Linklater, Chante Spiiedel, and Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway.