September 30 annually marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day in Canada.
Orange Shirt Day was first established as a day of observance in 2013. The use of an orange shirt as a symbol was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing—including a new orange shirt that her grandmother had bought her—was taken away during her first day of residential schooling, and never returned – thus the orange shirt has come to be recognized as a symbol what was taken from the Indigenous communities.
A national holiday since 2023, Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the Indigenous children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. It’s a day for the public to reflect on and recognize the tragic and painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools, a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Community centres and parks around the region are hosting walks and gatherings and many of our museums and cultural institutions are offering activities and events, welcoming the public to reflect, listen and learn about Truth and Reconciliation, including;
Vancouver Public Library hosts a plethora of resources to learn about the Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, Residential Schools, including reading lists especially for children and teens of ebooks, books, audiobooks and online resources.
MOA: Museum of Anthropology Shop also offers a selection of books and shirts to honour Orange Shirt Day
MOV: Museum of Vancouver in addition to its ongoing exhibition – The Work of Repair: Redress & Repatriation at the Museum of Vancouver – a look at how the museum has been decolonizing its work and repair its relationships with Indigenous communities, MOV is also offering a special screening of a special screening of The Great Salish Heist; a feature-length Indigenous-led comedy-thriller that combines humor and suspense to explore themes of cultural reclamation and resistance against colonial oppression and institutions with admission by donation with proceeds going to Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Vancouver Aquarium will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by hosting a series of programs to honour and uplift Indigenous voices and traditions, inviting guests to experience storytelling, drumming, and cultural teachings from local Indigenous artists and Knowledge Keepers, sample traditional bannock, and hear firsthand from a residential school survivor
Vancouver Maritime Museum invites visitors to a Witnessing Ceremony; a Northwest Coast tradition. Witnessing is a sacred responsibility — to listen deeply, to remember truthfully, and to carry stories forward. The museum will be open by donation on September 30th
Arts Umbrella host Indigenous-led events that offer an opportunity to come together to learn, reflect, and engage including Children’s Book Reading with Joseph A. Dandurand and Family Art Project with Aleen Sparrow. Events are pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $10 with proceeds going to Urban Native Youth Association, All My Relations Indigenous Society and Indian Residential School Survivors Society
MONOVA: The Museum and Archives of North Vancouver hosts a day of cultural experiences and reflection, led by MONOVA’s Indigenous Cultural Programmers, Jordan Dawson & Tsawaysia Spukwus. With hands-on activities, crafts, and games developed to inspire meaningful dialogue, there will be something for the whole family.
The Polygon Gallery presents a selection of five short films from the National Film Board that highlight the resilience of Indigenous peoples in Canada, who have endured systemic oppression and cultural genocide.
Richmond Library at Brighouse in addition to its Indigenous Author Series and resources the library also offers a screening of Indigenous Short Films from the National Film Board as well as Family Storytime featuring picture books written by Indigenous authors and illustrators.
Place des Arts offers a free event, opened by Kwikwetlem chief Ed Hall with welcoming remarks and a smudging ceremony, followed by workshops with Indigenous artists and educators Christine Mackenzie, an Indigenous artist, facilitator, speaker and curator, along Nova Weipert, a transgender Two-Spirited Anishinaabe Ojibwe interdisciplinary artist, writer, director, educator and storyteller. Together, they will share their personal stories, reflect on their journeys, and showcase their unique artforms and lead the patrons to learn how to use different art mediums and create a small art piece to take home.