Hatfield acknowledges Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Sep 29, 2026
Each year, Canadians come together on September 30 to remember the children who never returned home and recognize the lasting and intergenerational impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous communities through Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Reconciliation requires more than reflection. Building respectful relationships with Indigenous Nations begins with listening, learning, understanding perspectives, and working together through genuine collaboration and partnership. We are grateful for the opportunities we have through our partnerships and work on Indigenous territories to learn from alongside Indigenous Nations and communities. On September 30, and throughout the year, we remain committed to fostering open dialogue, mutual understanding, and respectful relationships.
Wearing an orange shirt on September 30 is a visible act of solidarity that acknowledges the experiences of Indigenous communities and encourages continued reflection on the truths that have shaped history.
Opportunities for learning more can be found:
- Reports and Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- “Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls” by Indigenous author Angela Sterritt.
- “Beyond the Orange Shirt” by Phyllis Webstad, founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement.
Additional steps for action:
- Watch or listen to the commemorative gathering live National broadcast from Parliament Hill entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Watch a free virtual program during Truth and Reconciliation week to unlearn the myths of colonial history in Canada – National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Lunch and Learns.
- Sign up for the University of Alberta’s free course on Indigenous Canada.
- Learn about the land you inhabit and who calls it home at https://native-land.ca/.
- Be an Indigenous Ally – learn about the impact of residential schools and amplify Indigenous voices by sharing what you’ve learned with your friends and family.
- Need more ideas of positive actions you can take? This list of 150 Acts of Reconciliation may provide some inspiration.
