Truth and Reconciliation Week : Loyalist College

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.

September 30 also falls within the NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week, which runs from September 26 – 30, 2022. 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.

Truth and Reconciliation Week is a time of mourning for Indigenous peoples in Canada. The College will support any Indigenous students, faculty and staff who may continue to feel the intergenerational effects of trauma.

Truth and Reconciliation Week Schedule

Monday, September 26

10 am: Opening address and tobacco ceremony at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle

Haudenosaunee opening address from Jennifer Maracle. The opening address acknowledges our relationship within the cosmological family giving thanks to everything within creation. Engage with a Haudenosaunee tobacco ceremony.
Tobacco ceremony (Indigenous students, faculty and staff only): Tobacco ceremony, followed by lunch in the Indigenous Resource Centre. Create a medicine bag and share stories, teaching and experiences with our Indigenous community.

12 – 1 pm: Drumming in the Dining Hall

Drumming represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Join Rod Nettagog in the Dining Hall.

Tuesday, September 27

10 am: Smudging at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle

Join us at the Learning Circle for a smudging ceremony. This will be a spiritual ceremony involving the burning of sacred medicines such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage and tobacco.

12 – 1 pm: Flash mob and drumming in the Dining Hall

Drumming represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Join Rod Nettagog in the Dining Hall.
The Haudenosaunee round dance promotes unity and celebrates life. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

2 – 4 pm: Paint the past, present and future

This painting class in the Indigenous Resource Centre (3H9) with Cheryl Maracle will teach you about the creation story of the Haudenosaunee nation. Sign up is required; register here.

Métis artifact display
Learn more about Métis culture from Guy Mandeville and see traditional Métis artifacts. Located indoors, opposite The Parrot Centre Library.

Wednesday, September 28

10 am and 1 pm: Blanket exercise

The Kairos blanket exercise will use Indigenous methodologies to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by walking through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Meet at the A’nó:wara Learning Circle. Sign up is required; register here.

12 – 1 pm: Drumming in the Dining Hall

Drumming represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Join Rod Nettagog in the Dining Hall.

Métis artifact display
Learn more about Métis culture from Guy Mandeville and see traditional Métis artifacts. Located indoors, opposite The Parrot Centre Library.

Thursday, September 29

10 am: Smudging at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle

Join us at the Learning Circle for a smudging ceremony. This will be a spiritual ceremony involving the burning of sacred medicines such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage and tobacco.

12 – 1 pm: Flash mob and drumming in the Dining Hall

Drumming represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Join Rod Nettagog in the Dining Hall.
The Haudenosaunee round dance promotes unity and celebrates life. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

2 – 4 pm: Make a drum rattle

Craft a traditional style drum rattle while you learn Anishinaabe teachings from Rod Nettagog in the Indigenous Resource Centre (3H9). Sign up is required; register here.

Métis artifact display
Learn more about Métis culture from Guy Mandeville and see traditional Métis artifacts. Located indoors, opposite The Parrot Centre Library.

Friday, September 30

10 am: Closing ceremony at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle and College-wide moment of silence

11 am: Ceremony at the A'nó:wara Learning Circle for Indigenous students and staff

A Day to Listen (6 am – 6 pm)
91X will be a participating radio station in “A Day to Listen” during which they will share stories of Indigenous Peoples around the theme of “Messages of Hope.” Each hour will feature stories that will amplify Indigenous voices to learn about language, teachings and traditions in an endeavour to acknowledge the past and take “reconciliACTION.”

91X will be taking it a step further with music features spotlighting Indigenous artists. Each feature will include information and context about the musician and/or song.

National Orange Shirt Day is Friday, September 30

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 was chosen because it is the time of year when Indigenous children were taken away from their homes and placed in residential schools. Learn more: Origins of Orange Shirt Day

Loyalist College faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear orange on September 30 in honour of the children of the Indian Residential School System. Orange Shirts can be purchased through Indigenous Services:

Order An Orange Shirt