A Call to Action
A day, still often referred to as Orange Shirt Day, is a day of memorial to recognize the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. It occurs every year on September 30.
Showing Solidarity on the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation
As we approach National Day of Truth & Reconciliation on September 30, we invite all Trent University members to join together in a visible expression of solidarity by wearing an orange shirt.
Orange Shirt Day is a way to honour Survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the ongoing impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous peoples, families and communities. It is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our individual and collective responsibilities toward reconciliation.
Our participation sends an important message: reconciliation is not the responsibility of Indigenous members of our community alone. It is a shared responsibility, and our actions—both symbolic and substantive—help demonstrate our commitment to creating a university community grounded in respect, dignity, inclusion and belonging.
We encourage you to consider how we can use Orange Shirt Day as an opportunity to:
- Show solidarity with Indigenous students, staff, faculty and community members;
- Learn and reflect on the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools;
- Create space for respectful learning and dialogue within their teams and units;
- Recognize the importance of Indigenous voices, knowledge and experiences within the university;
- Consider how our leadership and institutional practices can contribute to reconciliation throughout the year.
Let us join in wearing orange and demonstrating, collectively and visibly, that reconciliation matters at Trent University.
- Equity and Human Rights Office