Honouring Orange Shirt Day
Message from the Provost
September 24, 2026
Kwey, She:kon, Taanshi, Ullaquut and Hello,
September 30 marks Orange Shirt Day, a time to honour survivors of residential and day schools and reflect on the lasting impacts these institutions continue to have on Indigenous Peoples, families and communities across Canada. The day is rooted in the experience of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of school. Her story has become a powerful symbol of the loss experienced by generations of Indigenous children.
The legacy of residential and day schools is not a distant chapter in Canadian history. It continues to affect many First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals today. Within the Carleton community, some students, faculty and staff are survivors, descendants of survivors or are living with the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma.
Orange Shirt Day offers an opportunity for all of us to pause, learn and reflect. It encourages non-Indigenous allies to deepen their understanding of this history and consider the role each of us can play in advancing conciliation. For Indigenous Peoples, it is also a time to honour family and community experiences, resilience and strength.
At Carleton, we remain committed to advancing conciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Guided by the 41 Calls to Action in the Kinàmàgawin Report, we continue to build a more welcoming, inclusive and supportive community for current and future Indigenous students, faculty and staff.
As we mark Orange Shirt Day, let us take time to remember, listen and learn, while renewing our collective commitment to meaningful action throughout the year.
Community Gathering: Every Child Matters
Join the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and the Carleton University Students’ Association in collaboration with the CUSA Mawandoseg Centre on Sept. 30 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the university flagpoles on Library Road in honour of Orange Shirt Day. The gathering will create a shared campus moment to honour and remember the children, families, survivors and communities affected by the residential and day school system, while encouraging continued learning, reflection and participation beyond Sept. 30. The event forms part of Reconciliation Beyond, Mawandoseg’s broader campaign encouraging the Carleton community to continue engaging with truth and reconciliation beyond a single day of recognition.
Other Campus Activities
- As part of our collective commitment to truth and conciliation with Indigenous Peoples, an Every Child Matters flag will be flown at half-mast and both the bridge at the north end of campus and the Richcraft Hall underpass will be illuminated in orange on Sept. 30 as visible symbols of remembrance and solidarity with Indigenous communities.
- On Sept. 30, we invite you to wear an Every Child Matters shirt as a meaningful gesture of reflection and support. Proceeds from Every Child Matters shirts purchased through the Campus Store will be donated to the Orange Shirt Society. This year’s design was created by a second-grade student from Coldstream, B.C.
- Campus Safety Services is collecting donations for the Minwaashin Lodge Emergency Food Cupboard. Non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products and baby supplies can be dropped off at the Campus Safety Services Office (Pigiarvik 203), Alumni Hall (at the Athletics welcome desk) or in Teraanga Commons (by the Residence Desk) until Sept. 30. Monetary donations are also welcome and can be made online at minlodge.com/donate.
Resources
Carleton’s Orange Shirt Day webpage features stories, events and resources for ongoing learning. The Residential School Survivor Support Line is available 24/7 at 1-866-925-4419 for Indigenous members of the Carleton community who need support. In addition, the Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement (CISCE) is marking the day by offering support to Indigenous students through a Truth and Reconciliation Program with Elder Louella Tobias.
Join us in seeking out opportunities toward conciliation on Orange Shirt Day and beyond.
Sincerely,
Theresa Hendricks
Director (Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research)
L. Pauline Rankin
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
