Monday, September 22, 2025

Canada Turns Orange for Change

 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 recognizes the tragic legacy of residential school, the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions. The first such day of recognition was held in 2021, by the founding non-profit organization, the Orange Shirt Society. Since then, Canadian provinces, cities and schools have honoured the children who never returned home and those that survived the mistreatment and impacts of the residential school system, which was a tragic and painful mark on Canadian history.

Combined with Orange Shirt Day the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day when all Canadians join together, led by Indigenous communities, to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families and communities. It pays homage to the hundreds of Indigenous children who were lost in the residential school system and long buried in unmarked graves that have only been discovered in recent years. A symbol of lost culture, freedom and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced, the orange shirt reminds all of us that Every Child Matters.

In response, public local activities and gatherings are being organized to draw attention to the history and legacy of residential schools all across the nation. At Twelve Mile Coulee School, we are one of many schools that will be promoting the wearing of orange shirts to be a visible reminder of the message, Every Child Matters.

National Commemorative Gathering

APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation invite Canadians to take part in the National Commemorative Gathering: Remembering the Children—National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This 90-minute commemorative event highlights survivors as well as Indigenous artists. The event will be broadcast live from Parliament Hill, starting at 1 p.m. MST (3 p.m. EST) on the APTN channel and on several major television and radio networks. 

National Truth and Reconciliation Library Collection

The federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission operated from 2008 to 2015, with the sole purpose to  provide those affected by the legacy of the Residential Schools Policy to present testimonials, stories, statements and experiences. The commission documented the materials gathered and created a library collection for ongoing research.

TMC's Library Collection

Over the past several years, we have steadily accumulated a growing collection of books and audio/visual resources focusing on the residential schools, and their survivors, including:

Orange Shirt Day

On Sept. 30, TMC students and staff will join thousands of other schools in Canada in wearing orange to show solidarity to the Orange Shirt Day movement. This year, the day falls on the eve of the newly appointed National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, which will be a non-school day at the Calgary Board of Education, and a day to reflect on the impact residential schools have on our society's past, present and future. 

The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad, chronicling an eight-year-old's 12 months at the Mission residential school in British Columbia, and the significance of the Orange Shirt movement. It is one of many books on residential schools we have purchased for our Learning Commons collection.

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad's Orange Shirt Story

Follow on Twitter: #OrangeShirtDay
Click to Learn more about Orange Shirt Day


Secret Path Week: Oct. 17 - 22

Secret Path Week is a national movement which occurs annually from Oct. 17-22. 

The week was inspired by The Secret Path by deceased author and Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire. The graphic novel is a heart-rending story of an indigenous boy, Chanie Wenjack, who froze to death while running away from a residential school in an effort to reunite with his family. 

Organizers of the week challenge Canadians to use the week to answer 's call to action, "to 'do something' by creating a reconciliaACTION and furthering the conversation about the history of residential schools.

Watch the animated Secret Path Movie:

In this CBC Arts Live documentary, Downie sings his song of the same name, delivering a haunting musical commemoration of Chanie's life and his fatal trek to return home to Ogoki Post, some 600 kilometres away. The. documentary also includes conversations with Chanie Wenjack's family and the impact his tragic death, as well as the residential schools' impact on their community, their culture, their families.
This documentary includes a panel discussion on The Road to Reconciliation



History of Residential Schools in Canada

There were 140 federally run Indian Residential Schools in Canada, which operated between 1831 and 1998, with the last school closing some 23 years ago. 

Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations, as well as demanded accountability for the lasting legacy of harms caused by the schools.

The commission's efforts resulted in:

Digital Resources

Kids News Explains What is Reconciliation?



The Importance of National Truth and Reconciliation Day by Cree author Michelle Good.

Residential Schools in Canada: A Timeline by Historica Canada



Namwayut: We Are All One: Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada













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