Honouring Truth and Reconciliation Day 2023

We honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, each year on September 30th. The day honours 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 was first established as an observance in 2013, as part of an effort to promote awareness and education of the residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities for over a century. Now a statutory holiday since 2021, it’s important to honour and commemorate this important part of Canada’s history.

The impact of the residential school system has been recognized as a cultural genocide and continues to this day. The use of an orange shirt as a symbol was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing—including a new orange shirt—was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling, and never returned. The orange shirt is thus used as a symbol of the forced assimilation of Indigenous children that the residential school system enforced.

We’ve rounded up creative sector events and content, funding programs for B.C. Indigenous creators, and resources for those seeking to learn more about Orange Shirt Day and support Indigenous people year-round.

Events
Root Dwellers Presents: Yellow Bunny, Lil Smudge – September 29, 2023
VIFF Northern Lights: The next wave of Canadian and Indigenous storytellers – Sept 30 to Oct 8, 2023
“Bones of Crows” miniseries premiered on CBC Gem – September 20, 2023

Support Indigenous-owned Businesses and Discover Creative Content from Indigenous Creators

  • Learn the meaning behind the phrase, ‘Every Child Matters.’ in the Medicine Wheel Publishing book authored by Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad
  • Explore Indigenous media, such as the online magazine Indiginews
  • Support Indigenous-owned bookstores: Massy Books and Iron Dog Books
  • Shop Strong Nations online, the Indigenous-owned and operated online book and gift store, and publishing house.
  • Read Local BC Indigenous books
  • Explore Theytus Books’ titles and read Indigenous authors’ work. Theytus is the oldest Indigenous publishing house in Canada. In Salish, “theytus” means “preserving for the sake of handing down.” It is located in Syilx territory on the Penticton Indian Reserve in British Columbia.
  • Discover Medicine Wheel Publishing titles and Indigenous authors’ work. The publisher creates award-winning, culturally authentic Indigenous books, resources, and tools specialized for moral and cultural education. Each book teaches a positive moral message designed to invite all children, youth, and adults to engage and participate in culture with authenticity and respect.
  • Visit DigiBC’s listing of Indigenous-owned video game companies, games, and Indigenous developers
  • Read the Indigenous Screen Office’s expanded Protocols resources, including working in Indigenous Communities, with Indigenous Cast and Crew, Indigenous Co-Productions, and On-Set Protocols
  • Follow imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival on their social channels and learn about the festival and year-round programming.
  • Find Indigenous-made films on Reel Canada
  • Listen to the Indigenous music playlist by Music BC
  • See more and discover targeted funding streams for creative sector Indigenous Creators on Creative BC’s Website 

Orange Shirt Day Resources

 

 

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