National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day Ceremony

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day Ceremony

September 30, 2023 7:00PM

The Town of Shelburne’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee invites you to attend the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day Ceremony.

Date:                Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time:               7:00 pm
Location:        Jack Downing Park, 140 Main Street

View the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day Ceremony Brochure and Poster.

Information on Orange Shirt Day 

Both the Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived residential schools and remembers those who did not. Orange Shirt Day raises awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and promotes 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. 

This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her.

To watch the message from Phyllis Webstad www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3vUqr01kAk

Program Activities Include 

• Opening Ceremony
• Flag Raising of Every Child Matters Flag
• Blessing of Every Child Matters Crosswalk
• Candle Light Reflection Walk - 1.8 KM

Every Child Matters Crosswalk

The crosswalk features seven feathers representing the seven guiding principles adopted by many Indigenous communities and organizations, which are: Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Humility, Truth and Wisdom.

Walking Route

We encourage everyone attending to wear an Orange Shirt.

Shelburne DEI Committee

The Town of Shelburne has established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.The committee’s mandate is to advise Council and continue the work of the Anti-Black Racism, Racism and Discrimination Task Force.

The committee will make recommendations and provide a monitoring and measuring role to help ensure that the Town of Shelburne applies a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to its policies, services, and programs.

For more information visit: www.shelburne.ca/DEI/ 

Additional Resources

• CCDI commemoration guide: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day
• CCDI educational guide: Indigenous inclusion
• CCDI educational guide: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day
• Indigenous Works: Tip sheet for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 
• Residential School Survivor Stories

• Films relating to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirits (content warning)

• Read Phyllis Webstad's Story in Her Own Words
• Watch the Story of Chanie Wenjack
• Remember Me – An Annual Day of Remembrance (Content warning)
• The National Student Memorial Register Names of the Children who were known to have died at Residential School (Content warning)
• Did You Live Near a Residential School?
• A Timeline of Residential Schools in Canada
• Indigenous History and Treaty Lands in Dufferin County
• Talk4Healing - A Culturally Grounded Helpline for Indigenous women
• Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous Peoples