National Day for Truth and Reconciliation also celebrated as Orange Shirt Day, will be observed September 30th. This day calls on all Canadians to remember the history of residential schools, through the experience of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, and the intergenerational impacts of its legacy on First Nations and Indigenous peoples. 

Activities Honouring the Legacy of Residential School:

In our library, we intend to recognize the day in various ways. To raise local awareness of the Indigenous issues around Residential School and the long lasting damage it caused in their families and communities.  One action we can take is to educate our community, to further the cause of reconciliation and honour those lost children by sharing the stories of residential school survivors, their families, and communities. 

At the library, we will recognize this day by inviting our patrons to:

• Read and promote the books we have on Residential School, Indigenous matters and books by Indigenous authors. We have created suggesting reading lists for adults Indigenous Matters reading list and for kids Talking About Residential Schools for Kids reading list
• Encourage people to read and learn about the Residential School system and the pain and lasting damage that it caused to survivors, their families and all Indigenous people
• Provide a Make and Take craft kit with a related theme and information

A national Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Resources to read and learn about residential schools

• Read Volume 4 of the Truth and Reconciliation Report “Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials, a critical resource.

• See the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Memorial Map: This map provides a basic overview of the locations of some of the most important sites in the residential school children’s histories.

• Learn of residential school survivors experiences: Listen to “Canada’s lost residential school children“ and “Residential schools“

• Advocate for change by keeping the federal government accountable. An analysis by the Yellowhead Institute (link below) showed that as of January 2024, only 11 of the 94 Calls to Action had been completed. For regular status updates on TRC Calls to Action, consult Indigenous Watchdog.

• Visit Grey Roots Museum to view Saukiing Anishnaabekiing presents Our Stories, which will invoke Anishinaabe creation stories while pointing towards reconciliation.

• Watch Reconciliation is dead…? (10 minutes) Link opens in YouTube.

• Watch Reconciliation in your Community, some history, some culture and a way to move forward in Reconciliation. (17 minutes). Link opens in YouTube.