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 Tuesday in observation of this day. We will reopen on Wednesday, October 1.
Here is an list of events and resources for the 2025 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/
- Assembly of First Nations – It’s Our Time Education Toolkit: Residential Schools: https://education.afn.ca/afntoolkit/learning-module/residential-schools/
- Southern Chiefs’ Organization – Indian Residential School Survivors: https://scoinc.mb.ca/indian-residential-school-survivors/
- The Orange Shirt Society – Phyllis 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
- CBC Kids – All About Orange Shirt Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE1F5nBQmME
- Wawahte: Stories of Residential School Survivors (documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrJNUCQ-r4
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 22-26 | National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Truth and Reconciliation Week 2025: https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/
- Sept 30 | Southern Chiefs’ Organization – 5th Annual Orange Shirt Day Healing Walk and Pow Wow: https://scoinc.mb.ca/orangeshirtday2025/
- Sept 28-30 | Manitoba Museum – Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum: https://manitobamuseum.ca/orangeshirtdays/
- Sept 30 | Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council – Orange Shirt Walk: https://www.facebook.com/share/179wqvpHeA/
- Sept 30 | National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada – Orange Shirt Day 2025 (Portage la Prairie): https://nirsmuseum.ca/event/save-the-date-orange-shirt-day/
- Sept 30 | Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. – Orange Shirt Day (Thompson): https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Rp43wiDK/
- Sept 29 | Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. & N’Dinawemak – Buffalo Ceremony: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FsYJP778a/
- Sept 30 | Fort Whyte Alive – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: https://www.fortwhyte.org/visit/calendar/ndtr/
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
