On Monday, Sept. 29, the University of Victoria community will come together in the heart of campus to honour Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. From 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in the Quad, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to gather in reflection, remembrance and action.
As part of the ceremony, a Sacred Fire will be lit, offering a space for reflection and prayer. The fire will burn as speakers share stories, poems and teachings that acknowledge both the painful history of residential schools and the strength of the Survivors and their families. A moment of silence will be observed to honour Survivors and those who did not make it home.
This year’s gathering holds special significance as it recognizes the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The theme, centred on resilience, reminds us of the Survivors’ strength and the responsibility we all share in ensuring that reconciliation continues to move forward. Resilience is seen in the ways Survivors and their families continue to carry forward culture, language and traditions that residential schools tried to erase. It also lives in the determination of younger generations who are reclaiming spaces in education, leadership and community—ensuring a stronger future for all.
The event will feature reflections from Dr. Barney Williams, a Residential School Survivor whose courage in sharing his story continues to guide and inspire. Shauntelle Dick-Charleson, Victoria’s Youth Poet Laureate and a member of the Songhees Nation, will share words of truth and hope through her poetry. Special remarks will also be offered by Qwul’sih’yah maht, Dr. Robina Thomas, UVic’s acting president, and Ry Moran, associate university librarian – reconciliation.
ʔetalnəw̓əl̓ | ÁTOL,NEUEL teaches us to respect the rights of one another and to be in right relationship with all things. This gathering is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on what it means to uphold those teachings in our daily lives and in the commitments we make as a university community.”
—Qwul’sih’yah maht, Dr. Robina Thomas, UVic acting president
The gathering is part of National Truth and Reconciliation Week (Sept. 22–30) at UVic, a time to reflect on the university’s ongoing commitments to reconciliation. These commitments are outlined in key guiding documents such as Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward: UVic’s Indigenous Plan 2023, Distinctly UVic: A Strategy for the University of Victoria | 2023 Forward, and provincial, national and international frameworks including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
For those who cannot attend the Sept. 29 gathering, more opportunities to learn, reflect and participate are available throughout the week. Visit uvic.ca/osd for a full list of events and to access supports and resources available to students, faculty and staff.
As the university community gathers in orange shirts, the message remains clear: Every Child Matters—and the resilience of Survivors and future generations continues to guide us forward.
