Honouring Reconciliation

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Orange Shirt Day Events on North Shore and Sea to Sky

Canadians are marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day to honour survivors of the residential school system and the children who never returned home.

A statutory holiday in British Columbia, September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day, first named by North Shore resident Phyllis Webstad.

Webstad, after having her own orange shirt taken from her as a six-year old child in residential school, went on to found the Orange Shirt Society in support of the credo that Every Child Matters. (Read more about Phyllis Webstad's story HERE).

This year, Truth and Reconciliation Week offers local residents many opportunities to learn about and take part in meaningful acts of reconciliation.

West Vancouver Memorial Library:

September 30: the library will have a showing of Aberdeen, a feature drama that tells the story of an Indigenous climate change refugee who has been forced from her home due to flooding. Forced into big-city life in order to protect her grandchildren, she faces the cycle of trauma that has been tearing her family apart.
October 3: stories, songs and crafts program for children aged five to nine years will be offered by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) author Lisa Lewis.

Museum of North Vancouver (MONOVA):

September 30: Indigenous cultural programmers Jordan Dawson and Tsawaysia Spukwus will lead a full day of activities, guided tours and games, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can, tickets are HERE.

Ongoing: An Exhibit of Squamish Nation history, artistry and culture.

North Vancouver District Public Library:

September 30: Join NVDPL’s Indigenous Creator in Residence Cheyenne Hood on September 30 at the Lynn Valley branch for a table talk discussion about reconciliation in modern times. Hood is offering a chance to engage in an open, honest dialogue about reconciliation in a safe, respectful setting.
September 30: Lena-May (Tsaxaxult), a member of the Squamish Nation and the Squamish Ocean Canoe Family, will conduct a beading workshop for adults, crafting a beaded keychain.

North Vancouver City Library:

Through October: The city library will host a three-part series on local Indigenous history and culture. The sessions will focus on truth and reconciliation on September 26, Indigenous activism October 17 and feature a trivia game on November 28.

District of Squamish:

September 30: A Truth and Reconciliation March will take place from Winnipeg Street and Cleveland Avenue in Squamish, BC to the O’Siyam Pavilion on Loggers Lane. Join the march at 12:30 p.m. and enjoy events throughout the afternoon.

Whistler:

September 30: The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre hosts a full day of programming including guest speakers Julian Brave NoiseCat, co-director of Sugarcane and author of We Survived the Night, and author Carolyn Roberts of Tess’s Red Dress; a short film Distance by Sydney Pascal, and the feature documentary I am Gitxsan (in partnership with Whistler Film Festival). Free admission.