September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The statutory federal holiday came into effect in 2021 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to create a statutory holiday which seeks to honour First Nations, Inuit and Métis Survivors and their families and communities.

Similarly, Orange Shirt Day is a commemorative day led by Indigenous communities to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities. Created in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, the orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced and reminds us that “Every Child Matters”.

September 30 was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools and is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.

The Residential School system was adopted by Canada in 1883 and nearly every province, excluding Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, had at least one school in operation at a time. The schools were operated and funded by the Canadian government with the aid of Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and various other Christian churches. The schools were intended to be boarding schools near reserves that would teach young Indigenous children how to speak English and French, as well as to adopt the Christian religion. The goal was to “assimilate Indians (Indigenous people) into society” by “civilizing” them by teaching the culture of the European settlers-society. These schools became a horrendous example of inhumanity towards Indigenous children with enforced abandonment of traditional cultures and values. Residential Schools fractured Indigenous communities and families, and lead to the death of many Indigenous children. During the century in which these schools were in operation, over 150,000 children attended, all between the ages of 4 to 16 years of age. Over 130 residential schools operated in Canada between 1831 and 1996. The last operating residential school closed in 1996.

In 2008 the Government of Canada offered an apology to all former students of residential schools in Canada. The apology openly recognized that the assimilation policy on which the schools were established was “wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.” The apology recognized the profoundly damaging and lasting impact the schools had on Indigenous culture, heritage and language.

While Mississauga was not home to a residential school, many Indigenous peoples with ties to this place were impacted by residential schools and government policies of assimilation that continue to have lasting effects today. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day is a time of education, reflection and remembrance.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was officially launched in 2008 as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The final report, “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future”, documents the tragic experiences of approximately 150,000 Canadian residential school students. Many of these children were physically, mentally and sexually abused. The commission also found that thousands of residential school students died of malnourishment and disease caused by poor living conditions. The commission established 94 calls to action to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.

We can also reflect on the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

Https://crc-canada.org/en/ressources/calls-to-action-truth-reconciliation-commission-canada/

The City of Mississauga has a number of initiatives that connect with Truth and Reconciliation: https://www.mississauga.ca/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation/

The University of Toronto Mississauga is hosting the 2025 All-Nations Powwow on October 4. This year's Powwow coincides with Sisters in Spirit Day. This day honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people:

Https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/all-nations-powwow/

There are many educational and learning resources to help inform the continuing journey of reconciliation: https://nctr.ca/education/