FST marks Truth and Reconciliation

September 26, 2024
The federal government has designated September 30 as a day to honour the children who never returned home and survivors of native residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
We join in the public commemoration of this significant day to recognize the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. For those of us who are settlers on Turtle Island, it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to the ongoing and important work of Truth and Reconciliation. And it allows us time for reflection on our individual efforts to address decolonizing practice and confront white supremacy.
This recognition represents a small step in the journey to fulfill the commitments and 94 calls to action made in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is a collective endeavour requiring active participation from all of us. Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place Sept 30.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On Sept. 30, Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to honour the thousands of residential school survivors. It also provides a moment to explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Start your learning journey here.
Discover the visual elements of the Truth and Reconciliation image at this link.