orange shirt day

two orange flags are waved against a blue sky

On Orange Shirt Day, Montrealers call for change

October 3, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

More than 500 Montrealers gathered on Monday in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

More commonly known as Orange Shirt Day, the day remembers those who suffered under the Indian Residential School System.

Meeting at George-Étienne Cartier Monument, attendees listened to speeches from Indigenous leaders, including prominent Mohawk activist Ellen Gabriel.

Those gathered shared anger toward the federal government, the province of Quebec, and McGill University. But they also shared hope about what can be done if people come together for healing and positive change.

With files from Sequoia Kim and Anna Waschuk

a group of musicians (guitarist, synthesizer player, drummer, bass player and traditional drum players) are standing in a circle in a small jam space.

cin k’ikh – Students and teachers explore the Wet’suwet’en tradition of being gifted a “trail of song”

September 26, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

cin k’ikh (pronounced “ken-ga”) is the Wet’suwet’en word for the songs you are given (gifted) throughout your life that tell your story. It can also be called your “trail of songs”.

In School District 54 in northern BC, Muheim Elementary Principal Liliana Pesce faces the same challenge that a lot of educators face when September 30th approaches — how to teach their elementary-aged students about truth and reconciliation. When Brennan Anderson, a neighbouring town’s music teacher approached Ms. Pesce about a collaborative song project involving both school as well as local and travelling musicians, producers, and Wet’suwet’en drummers, she jumped at the opportunity to support it.

“We are working with themes that are somewhat abstract to the kids. So I think music is a beautiful entry point, and music is global. I think we all as humans find comfort and we can interpret art in our own way.”

The front exterior of a large red brick building. A white porch can be seen surrounding the front entrance of the building.

Woodland Cultural Centre continues to transform the legacy of the Mohawk Institute Residential School

September 26, 2024 by Andrew Dow

With the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, Woodlands Cultural Centre Executive Director Heather George says she hopes more survivors will be able to share their stories and the grounds of the former residential school so that it can serve to educate the public on the impacts that have been felt in Indigenous communities.

WCC is located in Brantford on the former grounds of the Mohawk Institute residential school.

Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) is in the midst of raising funds to construct a new cultural centre with a focus on celebrating Indigenous history, heritage and culture.

George says the organization wants to continue to offer programming that will allow residential school survivors and their families an opportunity to reclaim that space and celebrate indigenous culture on the grounds where in the past, children were shamed and abused for showing their Indigenous identity.

Two girls dancing in a pow wow with the words "Every child matters" and "spirit Earth - artist" on the painting.

12 year old girl raises $1,000 for local Indigenous workshops

April 30, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

Kaet Lynn Wells, a 12 year old girl in Osgoode, Ontario, has recently raised $1,000 selling painted shirts for Orange Shirt Day.

Orange Shirt Day, known also as the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” is recognized every year on Sept. 30, and commemorates the history of residential schools in Canada, survivors and families and communities.

With this money, she plans on adding Indigenous workshops to the Osgoode Youth Association for those in her community looking to get in touch or simply learn more about Indigenous culture.

To hear how she fundraised the money and more about her story, listen to 95.7 ELMNT FM interview with Kate Lynn.

On Orange Shirt Day, Montrealers call for change

cin k’ikh – Students and teachers explore the Wet’suwet’en tradition of being gifted a “trail of song”

Woodland Cultural Centre continues to transform the legacy of the Mohawk Institute Residential School

12 year old girl raises $1,000 for local Indigenous workshops

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