Truth and Reconciliation Week

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Truth and Reconciliation Week

In recognition of the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada, the federal government passed legislation designating September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

The college also recognizes the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s (NCTR) Truth and Reconciliation Week. During this week, Loyalist College will memorialize the lives of the lost children by hosting events and providing resources about the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School System, decolonization and the inception of Orange Shirt Day itself.

Loyalist encourages all students, faculty and staff to participate in these events and join the conversation. Learning and commemorating the truth of our history from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledge keepers is an important part of the reconciliation process. 

A ceremonial gathering at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle. In the foreground, a student is tending to the sacred fire. Staff and students in the background wear orange to recognize the impact of residential schools.
Orange graphic circles on a white background.

We invite you to review the resources below.

Orange Shirt Day 

The National Orange Shirt campaign – Every Child Matters – acknowledges the experiences of the former students of the Indian Residential Schools and is an ongoing commitment to reconciliation. In September 2014, the Assembly of First Nations asked all Canadians to join First Nations in wearing an orange shirt in the spirit of healing and reconciliation. The date Sept. 30 was chosen because it is the time of year when Indigenous children were taken away from their homes and placed in residential schools.  

Loyalist College faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear orange throughout the week in honour of the children of the Indian Residential School System. Learn more about the origins of Orange Shirt Day.

Purchase an orange shirt

100% of the proceeds from the purchase of a shirt will be donated to Survivor’s Secretariat.

Acknowledging Truth and Reconciliation  

Decolonization: The first steps toward reconciliation  

100 Ways to Indigenize and Decolonize Academic Programs and Courses, University of Regina 

Documentary: Doctrine of Discovery  

Remembering the children 

Loyalist College remembers the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.  

The list below shows the number of unmarked graves found at former residential school grave sites across Canada to date. The search continues. 

Location Institution Number of Unmarked Graves 
Battleford, SK Battleford Industrial School 74 
Brantford in Six Nations, ON Mohawk Institute Residential School 6 
Fort Providence, NWT Sacred Heart Mission School 161 
High River, AB Dunbrow Industrial School 34 
Saddle Lake Cree Nation, AB Blue Quills Indian Residential School 19 
Regina, SK Regina Indian Industrial School 38 
Lestock/Muskowekan First Nation, SK Musowequan Indian Residential School 35 
Kamloops, BC Kamloops Indian Residential School 215 
Brandon, MB Brandon Indian Residential School 104 
Marieval, SK Catholic church cemetery near Marieval Indian Residential School 751 
Cranbrook/Ktunaxa First Nation, BC St. Eugene Hospital new Kooetnay Island Residential School 182 
Kuper Island/Penekalut Island, BC Kuper Island Indian Residential School  160 
Delmas, SK Thunderchild Residential School 44 
Williams Lake, BC St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School 159 
Kamsack, SK St. Philip’s Indian Residential School 12 
Fort Pelly, SK Fort Pelly Residential School 42 
Grouard, AB Grouard (St. Bernard’s) Residential School 54 
Grouard, AB Community cemetery near Grouard (St. Bernard’s) Residential School 115 
Punnichy, SK George Gordon Indian Residential School 14 
Sandy Bay, MB Sandy Bay Indian Residential School 13 
Kenora, ON St. Mary’s Indian Residential School  171 
Port Alberni, BC Alberni Indian Residential School 17 
Sechelt, BC St. Augustine’s Indian Residential School 40 
Joussard, AB St. Bruno’s Indian Residential School 88 

Honouring the children

Residential School Timeline  
Map of Residential Schools in Canada 

The legacy of residential schools