September 30th is Orange Shirt Day, and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Today, we wear orange to remember and honor the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and all Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. 

We encourage you to not only wear orange, but to take the time to reflect on historic truths and consider individual and collective actions that we all can take, such as:  

• Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commision (TRC) Calls to Action 
• Listen to the survivors’ stories,  
• Take time to remember those that did not make it home to their families, 
• Educate yourself on Residential Schools 
• Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) 
• Attend an event hosted in your area to commemorate today Commit to learning about decolonization and how it impacts national and international systems  

As an Indigenous-governed organization, ICE is committed to centering Indigenous voices by showcasing the tremendous work Indigenous communities are doing. We are also committed to educating ourselves and the people we work with, since this is how we grow and find better ways to affect the change we want to see collectively.  

ICE is committed to acting on Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action as they are key pieces of righting past injustices and transforming Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people. We fully support the implementation of the Calls to Action and commit to doing our part to act on them because we believe that everyone has a role to play in making them a reality. 

Today, we invite the whole ICE Community (Catalysts, mentors, supporters, partners and programs’ participants) and all Canadians in general to mindfully reflect on this day and how we all can do our part in the Truth and Reconciliation process.  

Below is a list of events happening today across the country that you can join: 

• A prime-time special in honour of residential school survivors is to air on APTN and CBC/Radio-Canada. Learn more here  
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has put on a series of virtual events beginning Monday. Topics are to include treaties, land claims and unceded territories, language and culture, and truth and reconciliation. Videos can be seen on the website nctr.ca. 
• Every Child Matters / Chaque Enfant Compte at Place du Canada in Montreal at 1 p.m. The event is organized by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL). More info. here 
• Remember Me: A National Day of Remembrance – National gathering and walk from Parliament Hill to Confederation Park in Ottawa. The event will also be livestreamed. 
• Orange Shirt Day Pow Wow – St. John’s Park, Winnipeg on September 30th at 12 p.m. 
• Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day –  UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, Vancouver at 11:45 a.m.  
•  The City of Calgary joins communities across the country recognizing Orange Shirt Day in an outdoor ceremony that will be livestreamed on calgary.ca/live. 
• Weekend of Reconciliation on the Waterfront – organized by the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre at the Sands at Salter urban beach area in Halifax from Thursday to Oct. 2.  
• National Day for Truth and Reconcilation – Community walk from Nunavut Monument at Igluvut Building to the Iqaluit Square in honour and in remembrance of residential school survivors around Canada at 1 p.m. 
• Every Child Matters Community Concert at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon at 7 p.m. 
• Unity Jam Concert – at Dufferin Grove Park in Toronto at 3 p.m. The event is organized by 1492 Land Back Lane, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. 

*Remember, the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience.