National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th, 2022

The Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council and the Heritage Home for the Arts will be open on September 30th to share information, resources and provide a safe place for our community to learn and understand the meaning behind this day for Indigenous people and communities. The staff and board of the Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council will continue to educate ourselves, acknowledge our role in the current system, support the Indigenous community, and help the resurgence of Indigenous cultures on this land.

Orange T-Shirt Day is an annual day of commemoration to honour the lives of people who did and didn’t survive the legacy of residential schools. Orange Shirt Day was started by Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor and the owner of the “original” orange shirt.

This day is meant to honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and all residential school survivors, their families, and their communities, and for communities to come together to mark the lives of Indigenous people who were forced to endure that horror. The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools.

Below is a list of working resources, please review and share with others and feel free to contact the Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council with more resource suggestions:

· BC Museum Association's Honouring Orange Shirt Day - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation resources for museums

· Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action - commit to ways your organization will be accountable

· Legacy of Hope Foundation

· National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Resource - Culture Days

· (C.A.R.E) Canadian Artists for Reconciliation Resources

· Spread awareness on social media with #OrangeShirtDay

· Support for Residential School Survivors and their Families:

o 24-hour crisis line for residential school survivors: 1 (866) 925-4419

o First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness, 24/7 Help Line: 1 (855) 242-3310

o The Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll free line: 1 (800) 721-0066

Manitoba: 1 (866) 818-3505

o Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645

o Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

o Native Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-877-209-1266