Today we observe Orange Shirt Day(opens in a new window) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation(opens in a new window) in Canada. This federal statutory holiday came about through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action(opens in a new window). Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. The orange shirt symbolizes how the residential school system took away the indigenous identities of its students.

Today serves as a day of reflection so that we can recognize and commemorate the harmful legacy of the residential school system in Canada, as well as honour the survivors of residential schools, their families, their communities, and those who did not return.

Neil Squire is committed to understanding the truths of our shared history, to accept and learn from it and in turn we are determined to contribute to the creation of a better, more inclusive Canada.