Today is Orange Shirt Day, a day to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

Every Child Matters: Reconciliation through Education is a guide containing truth and reconciliation activities for educators and youth, grades 5-12. Produced by Canada’s History in collaboration with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this magazine was created for virtual Orange Shirt Day 2020.

Author Monique Grey-Smith has based the guide on the Seven Sacred Teachings.  Each chapter teaches children about residential schools, Treaties, and the historic and current relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The complementary Educator’s Guide contains four detailed sets of lesson plans:

•  Demonstrating Respect through Understanding and Taking Action (ReconciliAction)
•  Gibaajimominaan: Our Stories
•  Learning Humility Through Being a Witness
• Honesty: Taking Action

Orange Shirt Day activities for younger students are available on the Orange Shirt Day website.