Orange Shirt Day / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day for all Canadians to reflect on the history and legacy of residential schools. For the shíshálh Nation, this is not distant history, it is lived experience. St. Augustine’s Indian Residential School stood in our community for more than 70 years, and its impacts are still felt by our survivors, families, and children today.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a holiday. It is a call to action. A call to remember the children who never made it home. A call to listen to the voices of survivors. A call to confront the truths that were ignored or denied for far too long.

Last month, our Nation confirmed an additional 41 unmarked graves at the site of St. Augustine’s, bringing the total number to 81. These findings are painful, but they affirm what our Elders and survivors have always known. As difficult as these truths are, facing them is the only way we can move toward reconciliation.

Reconciliation, however, must be more than a word. It must be a practice. It requires governments to honour their promises, schools to teach the full history, and individuals to make the choice to learn, to listen, and to act. Wearing an orange shirt is meaningful, but it is only the first step.

On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I ask all Canadians, and especially our neighbours here on the Sunshine Coast, to take time for learning and reflection. Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Talk with your children about what residential schools were and why they matter today. Attend community events when invited and do so with respect and openness.

Most importantly, carry this work beyond September 30. The children we honour deserve more than one day of remembrance. Survivors deserve more than symbolic gestures. And future generations deserve to grow up in a Canada that has fully embraced the truth and is committed to lasting reconciliation.

Despite the deep wounds left by St. Augustine’s, our shíshálh people persevere. We continue to practice our culture, teach our language, and guide our youth with the wisdom of our Elders. Our resilience is a reminder that reconciliation is not only about dealing with loss, but also about honouring the strength and vibrancy of Indigenous Nations today.

On September 30, I ask you to stand with us. Remember the children. Honour the survivors. Learn the truth. And walk with us on the path of reconciliation, not just for a day, but for a lifetime.

lhe hiwus yalxwemult
Chief Lenora Joe
shíshálh Nation