Each year, we honour both National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30th. This is a vital time of reflection on our collective past for those living and working on Indigenous lands now known as Canada, and locally the First Nations’ unceded traditional territories now collectively known as British Columbia.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a call to action for all of us, it’s both a celebration of resilience, advancement, dynamism and the capacity-building work we all must do in solidarity with First Nations with long-term partnerships for mutual success. It also calls upon us to understand what is true, and to honour the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. 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 behalf of the province’s creative sector, we gratefully acknowledge the 200,000 Indigenous people living in B.C., including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The sector operates across the unceded homelands of 34 First Nations language and cultural groups, encompassing nearly 60 dialects and representing over 200 distinct First Nations in B.C. The creative industries are crucial in prioritizing, empowering, and foregrounding original Indigenous stories and those who have the right to tell them. Indigenous sovereignty and ownership of their stories are vital to the footprint of the creative industries in B.C. View events and resources to honour Orange Shirt Day in B.C. below.
Events across B.C.
View more events across B.C. on Indigenous Tourism BC’s website.
- s-yéwyáw: Awaken Film Screening @ UBC Robson Square Sept 27 at 6pm
- Culture Club at MOA: Cedar Hearts for Reconciliation Sept 29 at 11am
- Films Witnessing Truth And Reconciliation Sept 29 at 10am at Polygon Gallery
- Kym Gouchie Concert and Rise Up Indigenous Wellness Fundraiser Sept 29 in Salmon Arm
- Truth and Reconciliation Day: NFB Film Screenings with WaaPaKe (Tomorrow) and Our People Will Be Healed film screening at Museum of Vancouver Sept 30 at 10:30am and 1:00pm
- Truth and Reconciliation: A Celebration of Indigenous Textile Arts Sept 30 at KWENCH in Victoria
- Indigenous Short Films Screening Sept 30 at 11am at Richmond Public Library
- We Were Children screening at Trout Lake Community Centre Sept 30 at 10:30am and 3pm
- In honour of Orange Shirt Day, SUGARCANE comes to 27 cinemas across Canada including B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec
- Fort Langley Truth and Reconciliation: While most National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events are happening on Monday, Fort Langley National Historic Site will mark the day with special events and activities on Saturday.
- ‘Acknowledging Indigenous resilience’ in Maple Ridge: The Katzie First Nation, Fraser River Indigenous Society, BC Spokes and PLEA Community Services are hosting a free event with the theme “acknowledging Indigenous resilience” on Sunday at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge.
- Intergenerational march at UBC: UBC’s faculties of Applied Science, Land and Food Systems and Forestry are hosting a gathering and march on the university campus beginning at 11:45 a.m. Monday.
- ‘Healing through understanding’ in New Westminster: The Spirit of the Children Society will host prayer, dance, crafts and speakers at the south field near Queen’s Park Stadium in New Westminster beginning at noon on Monday.
- Create and Connect at MONOVA: The Museum of North Vancouver invites families to gather and reflect on Monday, with free programming including gallery tours, readings, storytelling and more.
- Semiahmoo Walk for Truth and Reconciliation: The Semiahmoo First Nation will hold its fourth annual Walk for Truth and Reconciliation starting at 11 a.m. Monday at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza on White Rock’s east beach.
Resources
Book + Magazine Publishing
- 29 must-read books for children and teens by Indigenous writers, curated by Phyllis Webstad
- Indigenous Books for Schools
- Indigenous Collections at your local branch – Vancouver Public Library
- Indigenous Reading List for Adults – Vancouver Public Library
- Indigenous-owned Bookstores in Canada – Rocky Mountain Books
Interactive + Digital Media
Motion Picture
- Indigenous Film Collection – Vancouver Public Library
- Indigenous Cinema – National Film Board of Canada
- Rogers Indigenous Film Fund Program Resource Hub – Creative BC
Music + Sound Recording
- Indigenous BC Playlist – Music BC
Resources, Tools, Actions, and Learning for Non-Indigenous People
Make a donation to support Indian Residential School Survivors
Learn whose land you are on with the First Peoples Map of B.C.
