Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament.
Wear orange
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognizes the tragic legacy of residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of these institutions.
September 30, 2021, marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day that coincides with Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day was first honoured in 2013, by the founding non-profit organization, the Orange Shirt Society.
Start your learning journey by exploring the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Description of the three icons
- The eagle to represent First Nations
- The narwhal to represent Inuit
- The beaded flower to represent Métis
Among the various visual elements illustrating Indigenous cultures, the circle is at the centre, which represents being together in spirit of reconciliation. The orange colour represents truth-telling and healing. The pathway represents the road to reconciliation. First Nations, Inuit and Métis are represented by the eagle, narwhal and beaded flower in the image. The stars represent the children who never made it home from residential schools.
The Blue and White 