Truth & Reconciliation - Honouring the Past, Present and Future
Honouring Truth and Reconciliation: Every Child Matters
On September 30, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is a time to honour the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.
It’s a day for reflection, learning, and understanding. Residential schools operated from 1831 to 1996, impacting over 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, many of whom faced emotional, physical, and cultural hardships. In 2015, Canada officially recognized this system as cultural genocide.
In addition to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day serves as a reminder that “Every Child Matters.” Wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children during the residential school era.
As Canadians, it’s important to be mindful of our shared history, and to continue the journey towards understanding, healing, and reconciliation. On September 30, we encourage everyone to wear orange in solidarity, to honour the Survivors and to contribute to the path forward.
Let’s take this opportunity to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful ways as we reflect on the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and work together for a better future.
Urban Spirit Foundation
The Urban Spirit Foundation (USF) is a charitable organization that exists to further the success of self-reliance of Urban Indigenous people. USF was created by the founders of ACCESS a non-profit organization formed in 1999 through the collaboration of six Indigenous community organizations. United in purpose, with the Foundation working to grow philanthropic resources to provide education, employment training opportunities, scholarship, bursaries, and community based programs and projects that move people from poverty to self-sufficiency.
