What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation all about?

Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is coming up on Saturday.

But while the day is a statutory holiday for federal employees, most people in Saskatchewan – including provincial government employees – will still be heading to work, and non-federal businesses will remain open.

What is the history of the holiday?

The day was previously known as Orange Shirt Day, an event which began in 2013 as a way to raise awareness about Canada’s dark history with residential schools. Orange T-shirts were sold and worn to mark the occasion, inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken away from her on her first day at residential school.

In 2021, following the discovery of hundreds of suspected unmarked graves at residential school sites in Canada – including in Saskatchewan – Parliament declared Sept. 30 a statutory holiday for federal workers and federally regulated workplaces.

While the day is a holiday, the mood is rarely a celebratory one. The day is typically marked by memorial walks and orange clothing, along with speeches from former residential school students and education efforts to bring more light onto Canada’s history with Indian residential schools and the abuse and trauma that affected many of the 150,000 Indigenous children who were forced to attend them.

On the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, the Saskatchewan government proclaimed the day “Truth and Reconciliation Day” across the province. Flags were lowered to half mast, and citizens were encouraged to wear orange while reflecting “on meaningful and lasting reconciliation.”

What’s open and what’s closed

With Sept. 30 falling on a Saturday this year, many organizations are taking a day off on Friday, while most events marking the occasion are planned for Saturday.

The University of Saskatchewan will be marking the statutory holiday on Friday, meaning all university facilities will be closed.

The University of Regina, along with the Hill and Levene Schools of Business, will also be closed Friday.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic will also be observing the occasion.

“Sask Polytech will offer all faculty, staff and students a day off to recognize the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” the school’s website reads.

“We hope our campus communities can use this time to come together in the spirit of reconciliation to remember and honour the First Nations, Métis and Inuit children who survived the residential school system, and those who were lost.”

Students and staff in Regina public and Catholic schools will not attend classes on Monday, and both divisions will observe Orange Shirt Day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, students at Saskatoon public and Catholic schools won’t have classes on Friday to mark the holiday.

How to mark the day

All Canadians are encouraged to wear orange on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to help honour the Indigenous, Métis and Inuit children who survived residential schools and those who never returned home.

Canadians are also encouraged to read and adopt the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

In Saskatoon, the city is hosting a pancake breakfast and walk for reconciliation in Victoria Park on Saturday. The event, called “Rock Your Roots,” will include artistic performances and speeches after the walk. The city is also hanging orange banners to mark the occasion.

Survivors of residential schools along with others gathered outside of Saskatoon City Hall on Monday morning to raise The Survivors’ Flag.

In Regina, an Orange Shirt Day Walk & BBQ is being planned for Saturday by Reconciliation Regina. The event begins with a pipe ceremony at the mâmawêyatitân centre starting at 8:30 a.m., and concludes with remarks from a residential school survivor and a memorial song.

The Regina Public Library and Mackenzie Art Gallery are also hosting events on Saturday.

Many other events are planned around the province and country as well.