September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the terrible legacy of Canada’s residential school system, commemorate residential school Survivors, and remember the thousands of Indigenous children lost to this system.
The Manitoba Arts Council office will be closed on Friday in observation of this day. We will reopen on Monday, October 3.
To commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we’ve compiled a list of events and resources on the importance of this day and some of the incredible work done by Indigenous artists on the subject of truth and reconciliation.
Learn
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – Calls to Action: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524494530110/1557511412801
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Residential School History: https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples/
- Virtual exhibits: https://nctr.ca/exhibits/
- Southern Chiefs’ Organization
- Indian Residential School Survivors: https://scoinc.mb.ca/indian-residential-school-survivors/
- Survivors’ Healing Supports Program: https://scoinc.mb.ca/survivors-healing-supports-program/
- The Orange Shirt Society – Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story in her own words: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html
- Canada Council for the Arts – {Re}conciliation Initiative: https://canadacouncil.ca/initiatives/reconciliation
- University of Victoria – The impact of Indigenous art practices on truth & reconciliation: an interview with Carey Newman: https://finearts.uvic.ca/research/blog/2021/12/07/the-impact-of-indigenous-art-practices-on-truth-reconciliation/
Watch
- Canada School of Public Service
- Truth and Reconciliation (with the Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair): https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/ssontr-eng.aspx
- Reconciliation Through the Arts: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/rta-eng.aspx
- Phyllis Webstad – On Orange Shirt Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuW4WbekhxY
- Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre – Residential School Artwork Conversations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSoomWfIhfI
- Belkin Art Gallery – Traumatic Histories, Artistic Practice and Working from the Margins symposium (2013): https://belkin.ubc.ca/events/symposium-traumatic-histories-artistic-practice-and-working-from-the-margins
- Wawahte: Stories of Residential School Survivors (documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrJNUCQ-r4
- Tasha Spillett for TEDx Talks – Existence as Resistance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjijZGDpXsM
- Kent Monkman for Miyawata Culture Inc. – Shame and Prejudice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISlp3DBjVA0
- Gord Downie’s The Secret Path: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGd764YU9yc
Listen
- CBC Radio – Truth and Reconciliation Commission: How the arts shape our view of history (podcast): https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-wednesday-june-3-2015-1.3097370/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-how-the-arts-shape-our-view-of-history-1.3098175
- Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais for Historica Canada – Residential Schools: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools-podcast-series
Participate
- Sept. 26 – Sept. 30 | National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Truth and Reconciliation Week 2022: https://nctr.ca/education/trw/
- Sept. 30 | Wa-Say Healing Centre – 2nd Annual Orange Shirt Day Pow Wow, Pipe Ceremony and Survivors Walk: https://bit.ly/3SBXsH2
- Sept. 30 | Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre – Every Child Matters Memorial Community Gathering: https://bit.ly/3SDoJsz
- Sept. 30 | National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and WAG-Qaumajuq – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: https://www.wag.ca/event/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-2/
- Sept. 30 | Louis Riel Institute and The Children’s Museum – Métis moccasin and paper vest workshop: https://childrensmuseum.com/event/national-day-for-truth-and-reconcilitation-2022
- Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 | Manitoba Museum – Orange Shirt Days: https://manitobamuseum.ca/event/orange-shirt-days-2022/2022-10-02
- Sept. 30 | New Iceland Heritage Museum – Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: https://culturedays.ca/en/events/14396f12-ef25-415b-81b0-f665cf84dc08
- Sept. 30 | Aulneau Renewal Centre – Truth and Reconciliation Day: https://aulneau.com/events/truth-and-reconciliation-day-2/
- June 28 – Jan. 13, 2023 | Canadian Museum for Human Rights – Métis Memories of Residential Schools installation: https://humanrights.ca/metis-memories-residential-schools-testament-strength-metis
