Orange Shirt Day & The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 26, 2023

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and is federally recognized as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a legacy of the Saint Joseph Mission Residential School (1891-1981). Started in May of 2013, this project has grown nationwide and expanded to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of residential school Survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Students in schools across WSD are recognizing Indigenous culture and remembering residential school Survivors during the week leading up to September 30, 2023.

While it can be a difficult process to remember a darker time in Canadian history, learning about that past can help build identity and meaning for students today.

Indigenous students acquire a positive self-identity through learning their own histories, cultures and contemporary lifestyles. Non-Indigenous students develop an understanding and respect for the histories, cultures, and contemporary lifestyles of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous education is a priority at WSD since 1993 and the K-12 curricula integrates Indigenous values, languages, histories and cultures.

Residential schools

The intent of residential schools was to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. Residential schools were initiated and ran by the Canadian government and churches. Parents did not have a choice or voice in their children attending residential schools and were threatened with jail time to comply. Students who attended residential schools suffered emotionally, physically and psychologically through the neglect and abuse they endured at the hands of their teachers and sadly many of the children did not return home. Residential schools permanently disrupted lives and communities, creating intergenerational traumas. The last residential school closed in 1996.

Family discussions

Discussing the impacts of residential schools can be an emotional topic. Please ensure care and consideration of your own well-being as well as your children. When approaching the subject of residential schools with young children, it is important to share knowledge in gentle and age-appropriate ways. Every Child Matters, can be a discussion about inclusion, taking care of one another no matter who you are or where you come from. This is a great place to discuss love, acceptance, diversity, 7 teachings, and treaty making.

Our commitment

In Winnipeg School Division, our land acknowledgement contains a commitment of action. This commitment is intended to provoke learning, create meaningful discussions and to work towards building relationships with ourselves, others and Mother Earth.

The students, staff, and communities of Winnipeg School are committed to truth and reconciliation through building relationships with Mother Earth, the original peoples of this land, and the stories that bring us together. We acknowledge the place in which we gather is on Treaty 1 territory, the homeland of the Red River Metis, and the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, and Dakota Oyate peoples.

Resources

National Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419

Kids Help Line text CONNECT to 686868

APTN Remembering the Children Fact Sheet

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation -CBC Kids

Residential Schools Recommended Reading for Children

Residential Schoos Recommended Reading for Adults