Orange Shirt Day September 29th

Tomorrow, we will be wearing orange to recognize Orange Shirt Day and to honour the children who were taken from their families and communities through the residential school system.

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (No School) — a day to learn about the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools, honour Survivors and those who never returned home, and think about our own role in reconciliation.

But reconciliation is about more than wearing an orange shirt. It is about what we do.

As Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose story inspired Orange Shirt Day, has said, reconciliation requires everyone. We all have different roles to play, whether we are Indigenous or non-Indigenous.

So, as you wear orange tomorrow, take a moment to ask yourself:

What is my role in reconciliation?
 What can I learn?
 What can I do to build respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and contribute to a more respectful and just community?

Truth comes first. We need to understand and acknowledge the truth before we can move forward.

Reconciliation is an action, and each of us has a role to play.