September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Every year on this day, we wear orange shirts to recognize and raise awareness about the impacts of residential schools that are still felt today.

It gives us the opportunity to discuss the effects of residential school and honour the experiences and resilience of Indigenous Peoples.

That every child matters.

This year, the federal government marked this day as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Although this is a lifelong learning process, we encourage you to take the time today to reflect, to listen, to unlearn, and to learn.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Tsəl̓ílwətaʔɬ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We are committed to using our platform to share educational resources and amplify voices in our community.

We fully support the Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led calls for truth and reconciliation.

We honour the residential school survivors, intergenerational survivors, and the countless lives that have been taken by settler colonial violence and ongoing systemic oppression and racism.

Over 7 generations of Indigenous peoples are impacted by intergenerational trauma. The consequences of colonialism are still very much a current issue that needs to be addressed.

Residential schools operated in Canada from the 1870s to the 1990s. The last residential school closed in 1996.

Please take time to educate yourself on Canada’s history.

Learning Resources:

• The Story of Phyllis Webstad, the Inspiration for Orange Shirt Day
• 8 Ways to Identify and Confront Residential School Denialism
• On Canada Project, Settlers Take Action
• Residential School History
• An Overview of the Indian Residential School System
• First-Person Stories from Survivors of the Residential School System

Indigenous Brands to Support:

Apparel: 

• Bare Active Wear
• Section Thirty Five

Beauty:

• Courtnei Lee Essentials
• Cheekbone Beauty
• Sohka Beauty

Books:

• Raven Reads

Home:

• Indigo Arrows

Jewelry:

• Inner Wolf Jewelry

Stickers, Prints, Accessories and More:

• Native Love Notes

If you are able to, please consider donating to an Indigenous Organization:

• Orange Shirt Society
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society
• Legacy of Hope Foundation
• Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
• Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society

If you or someone you know needs support:

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society offers crisis support 24/7 for residential school survivors

Call toll-free: 1-800-721-0066

Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help 24/7 to all Indigenous peoples across Canada

Call toll-free: 1-855-242-3310

Connect via the online chat: www.hopeforwellness.ca