Every child matters

Ways to Participate in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 29, 2021

Five ideas for commemorating the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools

Tomorrow is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is also Orange Shirt Day. This is a solemn time for learning and unlearning. Coming to terms with the grim reality that ours is a nation built on the systemic erasure of Indigeneity requires that we — both individually and collectively — go beyond reflection and commit ourselves to action.

Vancouver Foundation offices will be closed on September 30. Here are a few ways that we are partaking in the day, and invite you to join us:

  • Another way to move from reflection to action is answering the call from The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada to donate One Day’s Pay to Indigenous-led organizations and projects, which many Vancouver Foundation staff and board members have stepped up to show their support for.
  • Wear orange. Though symbolism alone is shallow, it can be powerful when combined with this kind of learning and activities. You can learn more about the significance of the orange shirt here. We are grateful to Indigenous designer Chiara Ignace of Vinyl.sn for creating the shirts that our staff received for the occasion:
Every child matters

Our journeys are about so much more than what we do on September 30, and we will continue to take seriously our commitment as a community foundation to advance decolonization and reconciliation.

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