September 30th is the National Truth and Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in 2021 in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 in Williams Lake, British Columbia to honour residential school survivors, their families and communities, and the children who never returned home. On this occasion, we wear orange to remind us of the devastating and lasting impacts of the residential school system and of our collective responsibility to never forget.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
For more than a century, Indigenous children were taken from their families and communities and placed in residential schools.
Survivors fought for decades for recognition and accountability for the harms caused by the residential school system and its lasting impacts. Their fight for justice resulted in the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its 94 Calls to Action that provide a path towards addressing the ongoing legacy of residential schools and advancing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.
However, more than a decade later, only a small number of the Calls to Action have been completed. Many remain in progress, stalled, or yet to be started. Some First Nations communities are still fighting for access to safe, clean drinking water despite year of government promises.
Access to safe and clean drinking water is a basic human right and must remain a priority in the work towards reconciliation.
Reconciliation requires more than recognition. It requires listening to Survivors, learning the history and lasting impacts of colonialism, and taking meaningful action.
As members of the labour community, it is our collective responsibility to reflect on this history and contribute to the changes necessary to achieve justice for Indigenous Peoples.
Commemorate, Acknowledge, and Reflect
To commemorate the day, wear an orange shirt, attend a September 30th event, and learn more about the history and legacy of residential schools.
Let us honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, continue the work toward truth, justice and reconciliation, and call on the Government to fulfil their commitments on the 94 Calls to Action.
