September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This is a day for Canadians to acknowledge and reflect on the residential school system and to honour the healing journeys of survivors, their families, and their communities.

On Orange Shirt Day, CEIU encourages all of our members to reflect, learn, and commit to reconciliation. On September 30, attend an event in your workplace or community and take some time to learn more. We have compiled the following list of resources to help you on your journey.

Note: The information and material here may bring up traumatic memories or difficult emotions. If you need support you can contact the Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 (for residential school survivors), Hope For Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 (for Indigenous people across Canada), call/text 988 (available 24/7 for anyone across Canada), or find other supports here.

Learning resources

Websites

• Orange Shirt Society
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights: Canada’s Residential Schools

Podcasts

• Unreserved 
• Telling Our Twisted Histories
• Muddied Water
• ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖏᑦ (Inuit Unikkaangit)
• Face to Face
• Spirit Bear podcast

Videos

• Orange Shirt Society Youtube channel
• Holy Angels
• Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair
• The Indian Act Explained

Books

• Five Little Indians, Michelle Good
• Indian Horse, Richard Wagamese
• Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, Phyllis Webstad (picture book)
• When We Were Alone, David A. Robertson (picture book)
• The Inconvenient Indian: Thomas King
• 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act
• Ally is a Verb: A Guide to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, Rose LeMay

Other Resources

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
• Indigenous Ally Toolkit
• PSAC: Indigenous Issues