Honour Truth and Reconciliation Day - September 30
Tuesday, September 30 will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada. It is also Orange Shirt Day, a time to honour the children who attended residential schools. For Indigenous communities, September 30 is a day for families, communities, and nations to come together in remembrance and to take part in ceremony and healing activities.
One of the ways we can show our support is to develop our understanding of the histories and realities of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada. A great resource for this is the learning guide: Journey of Self-Discovery: Reflections on building Indigenous relationships and the Journey to Self-Discovery Video Series with Rick Hill on Mohawk College’s website. These incredible resources were developed by the Centre for Indigenous Relations, Knowledge, and Learning and Indigenous Student Services. They are great to keep as a reference and to share with family, friends and colleagues.
In addition to the guide and videos, there are a number of resources available under Indigenous Awareness & Allyship Resources on MyMohawk. You can find these under Tools and Resources on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Additional resources about Orange Shirt Day and links to community events can be found on the Indigenous Student Services page.
Orange Shirt Day
If you are able, please wear orange on September 30. Wearing orange brings awareness to the history of residential schools and the legacy they left behind. It is a way to show our support for Survivors and their families, and for the families of the children who never came home.
Community Events and Resources
There are a number of resources available to learn more about Orange Shirt Day, residential schools, Survivors, and Intergenerational Survivors:
- The Woodland Cultural Centre: Official Unveiling: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Event
- On September 30, 2025, the Woodland Cultural Centre will officially unveil the former Mohawk Institute Residential School as an Interpretive Historic Site on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For more information, please visit https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/official-unveiling/
- HRIC: 4th Annual Truth and Reconciliation Event: E Yeti ya da nohs da:t Ogwak sa dah "Lifting Up Our Children"
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- The Truth & Reconciliation Commission
- Orange Shirt Society
- Assembly of First Nations It's Our Time Toolkit
- Mohawk College Indigenous Education & Student Services