Orange Shirt Day

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

It is a day to reflect on the history and legacy of residential schools in this country and in our province. Labrador and Newfoundland had five residential schools and the legacy of those schools continues to this day. There were four in the Labrador communities of Cartwright, Makkovik, Nain, and Northwest River, and one in the Newfoundland community of St. Anthony.

Orange Shirt Day was started by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad in 2013. It is an Indigenous-led initiative to recognize and raise awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on individuals, families and communities.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created by the federal government in 2021, fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Call to Action #80: We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Schedule of Events

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23 - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in activities planned throughout the week of Sept. 23-27 to recognize this important day. On Friday, Sept. 27, you are encouraged to wear orange. Wearing or displaying orange is a symbol of solidarity with those who survived residential schools and an act of remembrance for those who never made it home. Orange shirts are available to purchase at the St. John’s campus bookstore (UC-2006, all proceeds will be donated to First Light).

There will be resource tables set up at 5 different locations across the St. John’s campus. The resource tables will include an engagement opportunity that we encourage everyone to participate in. Cards will be provided with reflections we encourage everyone to think about over the long weekend. Resources available will include information on the TRC, residential schools, smudging, and lighting the Kullik. There will be a lighting of the Kullik at the 2pm event in the Bruneau Centre Atrium on Friday, September 27.

The resource tables are located:

  1. Gushue Hall - dining hall
  2. QEII Library - main floor lobby
  3. University Centre - 3rd floor, by the Clock Tower entrance
  4. Business Building - outside the RBC Atrium
  5. Bruneau Centre - main floor atrium

PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

Smudging ceremonies and lessons will take place across campus. Participation is voluntary, but we encourage everyone to take the time to observe, listen, and learn. Smudging is a First Nations purification ceremony involving the lighting of sacred medicinal plants. Smudging often happens in spaces in which First Nations knowledges are shared. Through these smudges we seek to familiarize the Memorial community with the practice and its significance. Smudging is also one of many traditional practices residential schools actively disparaged and disrupted in the effort to assimilate students. The final smudging ceremony will also include the lighting of the Kullik, and a campus walk from the Bruneau Centre to Juniper House to tie orange ribbons.

Wednesday September 25:

  • 1 p.m. - Smuding ceremony and lesson at the Faculty of Business, RBC Atrium
  • 2:30 p.m. - Smudging ceremony and lesson outside on the Marine Institute Campus

Friday September 27:

  • 10 a.m. - Smudging ceremony and lesson in the QEII Library lobby (first floor)
  • 11 a.m. - Smudging ceremony and lesson at the Global Learning Centre (Internationalization Office), CA-2002 
  • 12 p.m. - Smuding ceremony and lesson in Dining Hall mezzanine, R. Gushue Hall
  • 2 p.m. - Lighting of the Kulllik and smudging ceremony and lesson in the Bruneau Centre Atrium (first floor).
  • 3 p.m. - Campus walk starting at the Bruneau Centre, ending at Juniper House (208 Elizabeth Ave), light refreshments to follow.

All students, staff and faculty are invited to participate in or observe the smudging cermonies and lessons, and to attend the campus walk hosted by the Indigenous Student Resource Centre and the Office of Indigenous Affairs. 

Resources

This day is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the historic and current injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples and to learn about what we can do to live up to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. Truth and reconciliation are the responsibility of every Canadian. However, there cannot be reconciliation without truth telling. Truth is the hardest part, as it means learning about the difficult history, purpose, and impacts of residential schools in Canada. We encourage you to explore the following resources to learn more:

Other online resources for reflection and education on Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: