September 30, 2021 is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is the first year that Canada has observed this Federal Holiday. It is a day to honour the survivors of the Residential Schools as well as those who were lost during this time. There were 140 federally run Indian Residential Schools in Canada from 1831-1998. The Truth and Reconciliation Committee ran from 2008-2015 and dealt with those affected by the Residential Schools. Their final report was published afterwards and can be found here https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524494530110/1557511412801. Orange Shirt Day (https://www.orangeshirtday.org/) occurs on the same day; this is a grass roots Indigenous organization that was started by the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion in 2013 after Phyllis Webstad told her story about wearing an orange shirt on her first day of school and having it taken from her.
