September 30 marks the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, we remember and honour the children who never came home and the survivors of the residential school system.
Find learning opportunities and further resources below, including local events and books to further understanding and dialogue.
Moccasin Identifier
Friday, September 29, 9:15 am
20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill
Join the Town of Pelham and the Lincoln Pelham Public Library to learn more about Indigenous history through the Moccasin Identifier Project! This project was created by Carolyn King in partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Greenbelt Foundation to promote public awareness of significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Turtle Island.
The moccasin stencils were designed by Phillip Cote, based on moccasins held in the private collection of the Bata Shoe Museum. The four styles of moccasins reflect the four linguistic groups in Ontario:
- Cree – mainly located in Northern Ontario
- Anishinaabe – throughout much of Ontario
- Huron – Wendat to the East
- Seneca – from New York State into Southwestern Ontario through Niagara
Orange Shirt Day Story Time
Friday, September 29, 10:30 am
Fonthill Branch
Drop in for all ages
Listen to stories by Indigenous authors and make a simple craft. Everyone is encouraged to wear orange.
Until Monday, October 2:
Read a StoryWalk of Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad in Peace Park in Fonthill.
Educate yourself:
A Day to Listen with the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund. This year’s theme is Mino Bimaadiziwin: Honouring Indigenous Identity. Bimaadiziwin means ‘the good life’ in Anishinabemowin. By celebrating the diversity of Indigenous identity, we are honouring the good way of life.
Guests will speak about Indigenous identity through conversations about representation in sports and entertainment, the fusion of traditional and contemporary music, land protection and the impacts of climate change, and more.
The Witness Blanket is a large-scale work of art. The project contains hundreds of items that are connected to stories told by survivors of the residential school system. A safe space is available by clicking the red-and-white icon in the upper right corner.
Take an in-person or virtual tour of the Woodland Cultural Centre, the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford.
Read the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (also available in print).
Watch the Indigenous Perspectives documentary series produced by the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre.
Read books:
Here are few recommended titles:
Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation
by Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future
by Patty Krawec
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Becoming a Matriarch: A Memoir
by Helen Knott
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Truth Telling: Seven Conversations About Indigenous Life in Canada
by Michelle Good
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Call Me Indian: From The Trauma Of Residential School To Becoming The NHL’s First Treaty Indigenous Player
by Fred Sasakamoose
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City
by Tanya Talaga
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Heart Berries: A Memoir
by Terese Mailhot
Borrow the book | Read the eBook | Listen to the audiobook
Find more books for adults.
Find more books for children and teens.
Search our full Indigenous collection here.
Support Indigenous organizations:
Learn about and support local Indigenous communities through these organizations:
Niagara Regional Native Centre
Niagara Region Métis Council
Niagara Chapter Native Women
Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
If you are a residential school Survivor or family member in need of emotional support, a national crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-800-925-4419.