Sept. 30 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Resources

In June, the federal government announced the creation a new statutory holiday known as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to be recognized on September 30 each year. This day fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call-to-Action #80 and will serve as a day of remembrance, reflection, action and learning. Since 2013, September 30 has been known as Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the tragic history and long-standing effects of residential schools.  

Truth and Reconciliation Call-to-Action #80: We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.   

In a letter to the church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan Johnson encourages members to observe Thursday, September 30 as Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. “I invite you to make this a day of quiet reflection, learning and/or participating in a community event, she said in the letter.”  Read the full letter HERE.

General Information Sites:

• Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba: https://nctr.ca/
• Office of the Treaty Commissioner: http://www.otc.ca/

Here are some ideas to work into your planning for Orange Shirt Day/National Day of Truth and Reconciliation:   

• Wear orange on September 30 to honour Survivors of residential school and those who never returned home as a sign of solidarity, remembering and renewed commitment (www.orangeshirtday.org)
• Reflect on this service of prayer and reflection from the Anglican Church in Canada: https://youtu.be/M2HwyXb6y_Q
• Read Phyllis Webstad’s book “The Orange Shirt Story”
• Review resources and events offered by the Truth and Reconciliation Week (https://nctr.ca/education/trw/)
• Take a ReconciliACTION.  Some ideas: https://downiewenjack.ca/our-work/reconciliactions/
• Review the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action & related information from KAIROS Canada: https://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/94CallsToAction.pdf
• Utilize resources from the Anglican Church of Canada and Indigenous Ministries that have been specifically developed for 2021, including a video, introduction to the day and prayers (https://www.anglican.ca/orangeshirtday/).
• Consider the following list of resources that the Eastern Synod has prepared for learning and reflection.
• Review A Renewed Call to Reconciliation offered by the Conference of Bishops on June 1, 2021 and consider your next steps on the reconciliation journey.
• Share how you will honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by taking pictures (with permission if others are involved) and posting to social media using the hashtags, #OrangeShirtDay; #EveryChildMatters; #IWearOrangeBecause, #MyELCIC.
• Pray for Indigenous siblings, for right relationships, for your community, and for ourselves as we continue to live into our ministry of reconciliation in Christ’s name.
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Select List of Events:

• Orange Shirt Days at Manitoba Museum: https://manitobamuseum.ca/event/orange-shirt-days/2021-10-01/
• Various events shared in Manitoba:  https://news.umanitoba.ca/exploring-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-events/
• City of Thunder Bay events: https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/orange-shirt-day.aspx