On September 30, communities across Canada will come together for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day, a day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools and the survivors whose lives were forever changed. It is a time for remembrance, learning, and action, reminding us that every child matters.
At YMCA Calgary, we recognize that reconciliation is not a single act, but an ongoing journey. Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Calls for Justice, and the voices of Indigenous communities, we are committed to building spaces of belonging, respect, and healing every day.
Residential schools operated in Canada from the 1870s until 1996, forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families in an attempt to erase their culture, languages, and traditions. Many children experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse, leaving intergenerational impacts still felt today. Learning about and acknowledging their experiences on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is important because it helps us face this difficult history with honesty, honour the survivors and their families, and commit to creating a future rooted in respect, healing, and understanding.
In Calgary, we are on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy and Treaty No.7, including the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika Nations, as well as the Tsuut’ina, and the three Stoney Nakoda Nations of Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney, and the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation. These Nations continue to share their culture, language, and stories with resilience and strength, offering all of us opportunities to learn and walk forward together.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Events at YMCA Calgary
Throughout the month of September, we are offering opportunities for our community to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation while engaging in learning and cultural celebrations at our facilities.
Powwow Demonstration
Experience the vibrancy of Indigenous culture at a Powwow demonstration. Join us to witness traditional dance, drumming, and regalia that celebrate community, heritage, and living tradition.
- Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton, Sept. 23 at 4:00 p.m.
- Saddletowne YMCA, Sept. 29 at 4:00 p.m.
Writing On Stone/Sacred Teachings Virtual Reality
Step inside Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in a powerful VR journey presented by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY). Guided by Elder Saakokoto Randy Bottle and actor Eugene Brave Rock, experience one of North America’s largest collections of Indigenous rock art and connect to the sacred stories of the Blackfoot people.
- Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge, Sept. 27 at 11:00 a.m.
- Shawnessy YMCA – TBD
Hoop Dancing Lesson
Join us for an introductory lesson in Hoop Dancing with Cael and Austin Labelle, where families can learn or refine their skills in this traditional art form.
- Remington YMCA in Quarry Park - TBD
Early Years Activities
Children in preschool and child care will take part in story time writen by Indigenous voices and creative activities such as decorating moccasins and tipi designs throughout September.
We invite all members and community guests to participate, listen, learn, and reflect in these free events.
Additional Resources
We encourage everyone to engage with stories and resources that deepen understanding. These stories bring to life the real experiences of survivors, families, and communities impacted by residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Watching, reading, and listening to these accounts is more than an act of learning, it is a step toward truth and reconciliation. By understanding the past and the injustices that continue today, we can take meaningful action in building a future rooted in respect and healing.
Residential Schools
• Bimibatoo-Win: Where I Ran (CBC GEM)
• Coming Home (CraveTV)
• Sugarcane (Apple TV)
Sixties Scoop
• Little Bird (CraveTV)
• Becoming Nakuset (CBC GEM)
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
• Taken (CBC GEM)
• Highway of Tears (YouTube)
• Murder in Big Horn (Apple TV)
Recommended for Families
For parents and caregivers, these resources are a way to begin meaningful conversations with children about history, resilience, and reconciliation:
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson (Ages 4–8) – A story of a grandmother sharing her residential school experience with her granddaughter.
- Shi-shi-etko by Nicola Campbell (Ages 4–8) – A young girl collects memories of her family and land before leaving for residential school.
- Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell (Ages 4–8) – The sequel to Shi-shi-etko, following two children on their journey to residential school.
- Kookum’s Red Shoes by Peter Eyvindson (Ages 4–8) – A grandmother recounts how her time at residential school changed her life.
These films, books, and stories, alongside the TRC’s Calls to Action and the MMIWG’s 231 Calls for Justice, remind us of the importance of awareness, advocacy, and accountability.
How You Can Support
- Visit Local Sites of Significance: such as the Nose Hill Siksikaitapi Medicine Wheel, the Tsuut’ina Nation Cultural Museum, and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.
- Support Indigenous Businesses: including Boy Chief Trading Post, Sukapii Creations, Cory K’s Creations, and many others across Calgary.
- Support YMCA Calgary’s Indigenous Programs: empower Indigenous children, youth, and families through programs that support cultural identity, leadership, recreation, and community connection by donating or partnering with us.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day call for us to remember, reflect, and act. We are committed to reconciliation by creating spaces where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can come together to learn, heal, and grow.
This September 30, we invite you to wear orange, attend an event, and honour the truth that every child matters.