National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day of remembrance and honouring observed on September 30.

In Anishinabek News

• August 2021: The day was observed for the first time on September 30, 2021. It was established to honour survivors and ensure the history of Indian Residential Schools is not forgotten.
• September 2021: Paramedics in the Nipissing District wore orange epaulettes to support this day in 2021. As of September 2021, the topic of this national day was described as developing and dynamic.
• September 2021: The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was observed on September 30, 2021, to honour survivors and the legacy of residential schools. The holiday was established in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. David Shanahan argued that the day's significance depends on whether Canadians seek to understand the truth behind the history of Canada.
• September 2021: The first nationally recognized observance of this holiday occurred on September 30, 2021, to draw attention to the history of Indian Residential Schools. The day was established by the Government of Canada in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action number 80. The holiday provides a space for non-Indigenous people to learn about historical injustices and for Indigenous people to reflect on their healing journeys.
• September 2021: The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was observed on September 30, 2021. The day is intended to honor the children who died at Indian Residential Schools as well as the survivors and their families. The event coincides with Orange Shirt Day to promote education regarding the history of First Nations in Canada.
• October 2021: A group of cyclists from Saskatchewan aimed to reach Ottawa by this date in 2021 as a tribute to residential school students.
• October 2021: The first official observance of this day in 2021 included a memorial ceremony at Vickers Park in Thunder Bay. The day serves to honour survivors, their families, and communities and ensure the history of Indian Residential Schools is commemorated.
• October 2021: The day was proclaimed by the federal government of Canada to remember children who attended Indian Residential Schools. In Sagamok Anishnawbek, the day is also known as Ensa bezhik binoojiinh kchi twaawendaagzi Giizhgat, or Every One Child is Very Sacred Day.
• October 2021: A book talk featuring Waubgeshig Rice was held on the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021.
• September 2022: The second annual event was marked in Sault Ste. Marie with a two-day program in 2022. The day focuses on the impact of the Indian Residential School system and the resiliency of Indigenous peoples.
• September 2022: The Serpent River First Nation team received tickets to attend a Toronto Blue Jays game on September 30, 2022, in honor of this day.
• September 2022: The establishment of this day was accelerated following the 2021 report of unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Legislation for the day received its third reading and royal assent shortly after the findings at Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation were announced. It coincides with Orange Shirt Day to focus on the history and legacy of the residential school system.
• October 2022: The 2022 event in Thunder Bay coincided with Orange Shirt Day on September 30. The day serves as an opportunity for the community to come together and participate in reconciliation efforts. Participants in the Honouring Our Children Reconciliation Run used the day to remember children who never returned from Indian Residential Schools.
• October 2022: Canada Post released a series of stamps on September 29, 2022, in connection with this annual event. The day is intended to foster awareness of the tragic legacy of Indian Residential Schools and the need for healing.
• September 2023: Lakehead University organised several public events in 2023 leading up to this day.
• September 2023: The day was the focus of a series of events at Lakehead University in 2023. The day is associated with the Every Child Matters movement and the legacy of residential schools.
• September 2023: The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is the occasion for which Canada Post issued a series of commemorative stamps in 2023. The day serves as a time for Canadians to reflect on the truth of the residential school system.
• October 2024: The memoir by Murray Sinclair provides a framework for thought and action during this national day. The book was released in late September 2024 to coincide with the period leading up to this event.
• November 2024: The Wikwemikong Tourism monument contest was launched in 2024 in conjunction with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day serves to commemorate the tragic events and atrocities associated with the Residential School System in Canada.
• November 2024: The letter notes that some denialist writers fail to distinguish this day from other Indigenous awareness initiatives.
• August 2025: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency held its first national webcast for this event with a record-breaking turnout. Lindsay Happyjack Smoke participated in the event as a moderator and shared her experiences as an intergenerational survivor.
• October 2025: A ceremony was held on the eve of this day in 2025 at Hillcrest Park in Thunder Bay. The event included the raising of the Survivors Flag and reflections on the history of the Indian Residential School System.
• September 2026: The day has been observed on September 30 since 2021, coinciding with Orange Shirt Day.
• September 2026: The Chiefs of Ontario used the 2026 occasion to demand accountability for harms inflicted by the Indian Residential School system. The day serves as a reminder that reconciliation requires tangible action and support for survivors beyond simple remembrance.