Orange Shirt Day: Indigenous voices call for truth and reconciliation

Today marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, and with that Canadians are being asked to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and support Indigenous communities.

Angela Duckworth, an Indigenous Transition Navigator at the Chatham Kent Health Alliance and a member of the Indigenous community, said there are hundreds of diverse First Nation communities across Ontario.

She noted there are still systemic barriers Indigenous people face today that she believes must change.

Duckworth added that many Indigenous families do not have the same access to resources or opportunities that others might take for granted.

Duckworth, who previously taught classes including Indigenous Perspectives at Durham College in Oshawa, said education is one of the strongest tools for reconciliation. 

She stressed the importance of education and acknowledgement so Canadians better understand the hardships First Nations peoples have endured.

Duckworth emphasized that while acknowledging the truth is vital, advancing reconciliation is just as essential.

Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, B.C., and honours the experiences of residential school survivors while promoting the message that “Every Child Matters.

Story by: Evan Gibb