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September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day

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By Emily Carr University

Posted on | Updated

Filed in Faculty, Staff, Students

Natasha Artwork
Natasha Redwood-Scribe

"Deer Woman"

Spend time learning, reflecting, and enhancing your understanding of the residential school experience.

In 2021, the Government of Canada designated September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour survivors, their families, and communities impacted by residential schools.

Since 2013, September 30 has also been recognized as Orange Shirt Day, a day to reflect on the impact of Canada’s residential school system and inspired by survivor Phyllis Jack Webstad’s story of her orange shirt. Wearing an orange shirt is a meaningful way to support the “Every Child Matters” movement and to show your commitment to reconciliation and lifelong learning on your journey.

Join us in the cafeteria on Monday, September 29 at 11:30 am for for a moment of shared reflection, a Coast Salish Welcome and remarks by President + Vice-Chancellor Trish Kelly, in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please wear your orange shirt and share some bannock and tea.

To support your ongoing learning, we’ve assembled a list of resources and events in the community:

Attending

Sept 24 | Tea Creek Screening

The Cinematheque is hosting a screening of Tea Creek, a documentary that follows Jacob Beaton, a corporate worker turned farmer who transformed his family into Tea Creek, an Indigenous food sovereignty training centre.

Sept 25 | Natural Dye Truth & Reconciliation Workshop

In honour of the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival and Still Moon Arts Society are hosting a workshop to teach you how to create a naturally dyed orange t-shirt with locally grown plants from the Colour Me Local Dye Garden. Join facilitators Varsha Gill and LoriAnn Bird (Snyder) to learn how and when to collect plant materials, prepare fabric for natural dyeing, and make orange dyes while reflecting and spending time together.

Sept. 30 | Sugarcane Screening

The West Vancouver Memorial Library is hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary Sugarcane, from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The film follows the survivors and community reckoning from the investigation into the unmarked graves found at the Saint Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake.

September 30 | Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day

The UBC Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry are hosting a march at the UBC campus to honour survivors and their families.

  • The Library team has arranged a reading room with Truth and Reconciliation material to explore. Books will be chosen to celebrate Indigenous resilience, heritage, and accomplishments, and include topics such as Indigenous resistance movements, Indigenous research methodologies, Indigenous ancestral knowledge, and Indigenous lived experience, as well as the history and lasting impact of the Canadian Residential School system. You can also find resources on Truth & Reconciliation in the Indigenous Topics Research Guide.
  • Read the reports by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
  • The National Film Board has assembled a playlist of films on residential schools and one playlist for younger viewers.
    • Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Line- a 24-hour crisis line for survivors and families of survivors. Call toll-free: 1-866-925-4419
    • First Nations Health Authority mental health benefits - FNHA partners with Indigenous Services Canada to offer First Nations people in BC a comprehensive mental health plan. The plan covers counselling services from a qualified mental health provider, including psychologists, clinical counsellors and social workers.
    • Native Women’s Association of CanadaThe Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women.
    • The Hope for Wellness line provides culturally competent counselling for Indigenous people across the country at any time and can be reached toll-free at 1.855.242.3310. Services are available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut upon request.
    • Kuu-Us Crisis Line Society provides crisis services for Indigenous people across BC and can be reached toll-free at 1-800-588-8717. For adults/Elders, call 250-723-4050; for youth, call 250-723-2040.
    • Métis Crisis Line is a service of the Métis Nation British Columbia. Call 1-833-MétisBC (1-833-638-4722).
    • The Aboriginal Gathering Place at Emily Carr University is also open to Indigenous community members daily, Monday through Friday.

    Natasha Redwood-Scribe (she/her) is an Ojibwe visual artist from Treaty One territory (Winnipeg), currently living as a guest on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̍əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Selĺílĺwitulh Nations. Working in the Ojibwe style known as Woodland Art, she uses acrylic, oil, and relief printmaking to explore and reconnect with her cultural heritage. Her work brings a distinctly feminine perspective to Woodland Art, challenging its traditionally masculine interpretations. Central to her practice is Green Hair Girl, a recurring figure that introduces a narrative storytelling element to her pieces. Natasha has been passionate about painting from a young age and began her professional practice in 2020 with the guidance of her mentor, Lisa Wolfin. Her work has since been exhibited at Art Vancouver in 2022 and 2023, featured at the Hyatt Hotel Vancouver, and displayed at YVR Airport. She has also completed an artist residency on Salt Spring Island, BC.