September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation started in 2021 and is a federal day of remembrance to recognize those impacted by the legacy of the residential school system in Canada. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led day centered around continuing the conversation about residential schools, those impacted, and their stories. Orange Shirt Day started in 2013 inspired by events in Williams Lake, BC and the personal story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Society, which you can find here https://orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story/#story.
Residential schools were government-sponsored schools across Canada that aimed to separate Indigenous children from their families and eliminate their culture, language, beliefs, and way of life, with the ultimate goal of assimilation. Children in residential schools often suffered abuse, leading to neglect, sickness, death, and immense trauma that is still felt today. The legacy of residential schools is a part of the history of the land we live, work, practice, and compete on, and is important for our organization and members to understand and observe.
Special Olympics Alberta acknowledges the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, honoring the lives of victims, survivors, their families, and their communities.
What can we do?
As an organization that operates on Treaty 4, Treaty 6, Treaty 7, Treaty 8, and Treaty 10 and the traditional homelands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, we all have a responsibility to commit to ongoing reconciliation.
We encourage our Affiliates, our programs, and our members to try one or more of the following in 2024:
Learn
There are plenty of resources to learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation! We encourage you to take time to learn through the year, and especially as we approach September 30th.
Where possible, listen to Indigenous voices, knowledge keepers, and people with lived experience local to you
Learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action - https://nctr.ca/records/reports/
Learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
Learn more about Orange Shirt Day - https://orangeshirtday.org/reconciliation-hub/resources/
Participate
Wear orange on September 30th to commemorate Orange Shirt Day
Attend Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024 events hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/
Purchase merchandise from Orange Shirt Society - https://orangeshirtday.org/merchandise/
Support the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by purchasing Every Child Matters stickers
The Every Child Matters Vinyl Stickers help more people participate in Orange Shirt Day on September 30th and show their commitment to Reconciliation year-round. Featuring a unique design by Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) artist Morgan Asoyuf with the words "Every Child Matters" inscribed in the centre. Proceeds from Every Child Matters Orange Shirt Day products will be directed to the Native Northwest Reconciliation Fund to support people and families who continue to be impacted by Residential Schools and intergenerational trauma."
