Recognizing Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and this year it also marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

There are many opportunities for members of the University of Toronto community to engage and honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. In particular, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives for a virtual, tri-campus Orange Shirt Day event featuring Lee Maracle—poet, author, member of U of T’s Elders Circle, former Traditional Teacher-in-Residence at the Indigenous Student Services, and a former instructor at U of T's Centre for Indigenous Studies.  Please also visit U of T’s Orange Shirt Day event page to learn about the intention behind Orange Shirt Day and to download a virtual background to show your support on this important day.

Orange Shirt Day 2021 - Video by Hart House, University of Toronto

U of T’s Jennifer Brant on how Canadians can mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

U of T News spoke with Professor Jennifer Brant about how Canadians can mark Sept. 30, where they should turn to learn more about the ongoing impact of residential schools on survivors and their communities and the progress (or lack thereof) the country is making toward reconciliation.

Read more

Additional Opportunities and Resources

Indigenous Cultural Competency Training series for all U of T Students, Staff, Faculty, and Librarians

This series includes the following sessions:

• Speaking Our Truths: The Journey Towards Reconciliation (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Reconciliation: Walking the Path of Indigenous Allyship
• Reflecting on Land Acknowledgements.

Employees can register for this training through the Centre for Learning, Leadership, and Culture (LLC). Students can register for training through the Career Learning Network (CLNX).

• University of Toronto’s Indigenous Gateway
• Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health