Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) A Day of Remembrance and Reflection

Written by Canadian Council of Muslim Women

Published in News

Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) joins communities across Canada today for the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognizes and remembers the tragic history of residential schools and honours its victims. It is also an important day for all Canadians to learn about Canada’s Indigenous history.

There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1831 and 1998. The last school closed less than 25 years ago. Over the past couple of years we have witnessed the horrifying discoveries of multiple unmarked graves. Residential schools were a form of colonial violence against Indigenous Peoples and its effects continue to this day.

CCMW honours the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and we stand in solidarity with them in remembrance of generations of injustices that are all too often overlooked. We are spending today reflecting on our relationships with Indigenous communities and the immense amount of work that still needs to be done to move forward towards reconciliation.

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission proposed 94 calls to action to reverse the injustices of residential schools. It is our responsibility to stay informed and learn ways in which we can support and amplify the voices of indigenous people’s. We all have a role to play.

Take the first step in increasing your understanding and awareness of Indigenous history and use that to educate others. Start meaningful conversations that lead to effective action.

History of Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is based on the story of Phyllis Webstad who was a 6-year-old indigenous child that was forced to go to a residential school. Her grandmother had bought her a new orange shirt to wear for school and it was taken from her at the school. Orange Shirt Day has come to symbolize how it was for Indigenous children to attend residential schools. These schools forcefully assimilated the children and took away all meaning of life for them. Every year on September 30, people across the country wear orange shirts to remember the children who were taken from their families to residential schools.

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