September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize and reflect on the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, honour survivors, and remember the children who never returned home.
The Manitoba Arts Council office will be closed on Monday in observation of this day. We will reopen on Tuesday, October 1.
In 2021 and 2022, we 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. Here is an updated list for the 2024 National Day for 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/
- SCO Pathways to Healing Program: https://scoinc.mb.ca/pathways-healing-program/
- The Orange Shirt Society – Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story in her own words: https://orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story/
- Carey Newman – The Witness Blanket: https://witnessblanket.ca/
- Art Canada Institute – Elegies of Survival: 10 Indigenous Artists Remember Residential Schools: https://www.aci-iac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Art-Canada-Institute-Newsletter_Elegies-of-Survival_10-Indigenous-Artists-Remember-Residential-Schools.pdf
- Manitoba Museum – Understanding Residential Schools: https://manitobamuseum.ca/our-mission/indigenous-connections/understanding-residential-schools/
- Canada Council for the Arts – {Re}conciliation Initiative: https://canadacouncil.ca/initiatives/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
- 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 23-27 | National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024: https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/
- Sept 30 | Wa-Say Healing Centre – Orange Shirt Day Healing Walk and Pow Wow: https://wa-say.com/event/orange-shirt-day-2024/
- Sept 30 | Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre – Every Child Matters Youth Gathering: https://www.facebook.com/MaMawiWiChiItataCentre/posts/pfbid0389E65uuMTwytYtgexN14612HouiGzpNDYnLHcMKbqw54iunAHczy2rHsvaR17Pzkl
- Sept 30 | National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada – Orange Shirt Day 2024 (Portage la Prairie): https://www.facebook.com/events/1259042642174894
- Sept 30 | Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. – Orange Shirt Day (Thompson): https://mkonation.com/orange-shirt-day-survivors-honour-walk-in-thompson
- Sept 30 | The Children’s Museum – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: https://childrensmuseum.com/event/national-day-for-truth-reconciliation-2024/
- Sept 27-Oct 4 | Brandon University – Truth and Reconciliation Week (Brandon): https://www.brandonu.ca/indigenous/indigenouslearningopportunities/truth-reconciliation/
- Sept 28-30 | Manitoba Museum – Orange Shirt Days: https://manitobamuseum.ca/orangeshirtdays/
- Sept 30 | Fort Whyte Alive – Truth & Reconciliation Day: https://www.fortwhyte.org/event/truth-rec-day/
- Sept 29 | Anish Healing Centre & Pineridge Hollow – The Colour Orange: An Indigenous Art Gallery in the Forest: https://pineridgehollow.com/products/the-colour-orange-2024
For more events that commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit the Government of Manitoba website: https://www.gov.mb.ca/inr/osd.html
