NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
September 30, 2023 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day, formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, will be held on September 30 to honour residential school survivors, those who never returned home, their families and their communities. While it is not a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan, the province encourages everyone to take time on this day to listen, learn, and reflect to continue the important journey towards reconciliation. How you choose to mark this day is personal. You may choose to reflect on your experiences, attend local events or learn more about our history.
City of Regina – On September 30, the City of Regina will recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. The City of Regina and Reconciliation Regina, which is a community of organizations, non-profits, businesses, and other partners who have come together to initiate a city-wide conversation about reconciliation and provide opportunities to engage in the TRC Calls to Action. Visit https://reconciliationregina.com/ for more details.
Regina Public and Catholic Schools - To honour the spirit and intent of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students and staff in both school divisions will not attend classes on October 2. Both divisions will observe Orange Shirt Day on September 28.
University of Regina – The University of Saskatchewan will be observe the statutory holiday on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The university will remain closed this day which coincides with Orange Shirt Day so students, staff, and faculty can reflect on and participate in this integral day.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic - Saskatchewan Polytechnic observes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. Sask Polytech offers all faculty, staff and students a day off to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools and the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Ways to Mark National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Wear orange on September 30 to honour the Indigenous, Métis and Inuit children who survived residential schools and those who never returned home.
Orange Shirt Day was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools. It is also an opportunity for Indigenous peoples, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope. Some schools and businesses will observe Orange Shirt Day between September 28 and September 30. Learn more about Orange Shirt Day at www.orangeshirtday.org.
Orange Shirt Day Walk & BBQ – an event by Reconciliation Regina On Saturday, September 30th, the Equity Diversity Inclusion Network is hosting the Orange Shirt Day Walk & BBQ – Healing Our Communities, Presented by Reconciliation Regina.
To commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, participants will gather at the mâmawêyatitân centre starting at 8:30am for a Pipe Ceremony and then at 10am a short program will commence. The program will feature speaker, Eagle Feather News Editor and Residential School Survivor, Kerry Benjoe who is also a member of the Muscowpetung First Nation. Following this, a special memorial song will be sung by Everet Sayer & Tony Ironchild from Piapot First Nation for those children who never made it home from Indian Residential Schools. More details:https://reconciliationregina.com/osdwalk2023/
Regina Public Library: Hosting several events throughout the city that celebrates Indigenous culture. Join us got a lively Powwow performance by The Kawacatoose Boys, nad join Rev. Deb to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a special afternoon of smudge, sharing circles and nourishment. All are welcome! More details: https://www.reginalibrary.ca/attend/programs
Mackenzie Art Gallery Join us for a free afternoon celebrating MAGDANCE 5: art + dance + archive, Luther Konadu: No Further, and Multiple Lives of Paintings with hourly exhibition tours. We will also be honoring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with special family art activity in our Learning Centre. For details: https://mackenzie.art/event/rawlco-radio-and-the-mackenzie-art-gallery%02free-admission-day/
Additional Resources
For moving stories, listen to [our sister station] 980 CJME.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca; 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-721-0066
Orange Shirt Society: https://orangeshirtday.org/
Reconciliation Regina: https://reconciliationregina.com/