September 30th marks the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is also Orange Shirt Day. This year we’re publishing this blog post a day early so that you will have the chance to review the learning opportunities and join the events highlighted below.

There are many ways to acknowledge and observe these two meaningful days:

• Wear orange. Review the list of official vendors for Orange Shirt Day t-shirts or check your local community for retailers whose Orange Shirt Day proceeds help Indigenous organizations or businesses.
• Attend an in-person or online event. CBC put together a list of events happening in BC. Also be sure to check with your local community for events happening in your city.
• Take time to learn. Check out the resources listed below and the #IndigenousReads reading list to find even more learning resources.

“We are asking people to take the time to pause and learn something about Canada’s history. And that history is inclusive of them, whether they were born here, whether they immigrated here, whether they’re Indigenous.” – Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux

Did you know that, to date, only 11 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action have been completed? #94in94 has launched its second annual campaign to highlight each of the Calls to Action on social media. Check out the video below to learn more.

Resources

• APTN Resources
• The Callers of Action: An Interview with Eva Jewell and Douglas Sinclair on Measuring Reconciliation
• First Nations Child & Family Caring Society’s Knowledge Portal
• Government of British Columbia’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation webpage
• Panel Discussion: Indigenous Perspectives on the Pope’s Apology (10:00 am PT). Register to attend or watch on YouTube or Facebook.
• The Orange Shirt Society’s Teacher Resources
• Reconciliation Canada’s Community Action Toolkits
• What each province, territory is doing on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Why the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation isn’t just another stat holiday

Blog Posts

• Being an Indigenous Ally
• Indigenous Cultural Competency for Early Childhood Education
• Journalist shares Indigenous realities literacy
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (2021)
• National Indigenous History Month 2022