Reconciliation day is an annual event to commemorate residential school victims
Sept. 30, 2025, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, celebrated throughout Canada. Known also as Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30 is a day to commemorate and reflect on the tragedy of residential schools, as well as the ongoing impacts of trauma inflicted against many Indigenous communities.
Truth and Reconciliation Day is an annual event held to reconcile Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous population. For years, the Canadian Government worked to assimilate any Indigenous culture into the Western ideal, building residential schools, taking Indigenous children away from families, and introducing racist narratives of Indigenous savagery and uncleanliness. Though the Indigenous community still stands proudly today, the aggressive colonization of their culture is still felt in intense waves of generational trauma.
Education around assimilation of the Indigenous community is still lacking in many Canadian school curriculums around the country, this article only contains a brief synopsis of the systemic abuse curated by the Government and ignored by our society, readers are recommended to take the time to expand their knowledge around this topic via academic articles, or through Laurier’s own variety of Indigenous-centric courses.
“I think it’s fair to say that Canadian governments have taken good first steps towards reconciliation, specifically in terms of implementing Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing into education.” Said Dr. John Lewis, Director of Indigenous Faculty Relations in the Office of Indigenous Relations at the University of Waterloo. “However, what has been done so far are first steps – there’s still much that needs to be done to address reconciliation in Canadian education.
Wilfrid Laurier University and the surrounding Waterloo-Kitchener region proudly celebrate Orange Shirt Day in many ways. Students are invited to don their own orange apparel throughout the campus. Orange Shirt Day was directly inspired by one Phyllis Webstad, who was only six years old when she was taken from her family and sent to a residential school, she recounts the memory of having been stripped from her clothes, including an orange shift gifted by her grandmother, the orange shirt stands as a symbol for the many children like Webstad who survived residential schools, and refuse to relinquish their identity.
The Indigenous culture is one of celebration, and so, the University of Waterloo hosts a variety of events throughout the school year. This upcoming Sept. 27 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát annual Pow Wow, a non-competitive event filled with Indigenous vendors, dancers, and singers local to Waterloo and beyond. The Pow Wow is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals; all are welcome to gather at the University’s outdoor field and join in the commemoration of Indigenous music, art, and dance.
There are a few events scheduled for Reconciliation Day itself, students are invited to watch an assortment of ceremonies throughout the day, such as the Sunrise Ceremony, the Commitment Polishing Ceremony, the annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Remarks and Walk around Ring Road, before finishing the day with a Drumming and Round Dance, all information can be found on the UW Office of Indigenous Relations website regarding time, and location.
“The University of Waterloo’s commitment to reconciliation includes educating our students, faculty and staff about First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures, and the ongoing effects of colonization and the residential school system.” Continued Lewis, “The events on Orange Shirt Day are a reminder of that commitment and of the University’s collective responsibility towards reconciliation.”
As a Canadian citizen, it is essential to understand the heritage from which you came. Although it is a time of reconciliation, it is also a time of listening and education. Remember to wear an orange shirt and stand proud with your Indigenous community as September dawns on the school year.
