On Orange Shirt Day, Centennial CVI students came together to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through school-wide educational activities. Classes paused to focus on “Truth,” learning about Canada’s Residential School System, and “Reconciliation,” addressing current issues faced by Indigenous communities like the lack of clean drinking water in Six Nations and the Sixties Scoop.
A school-wide online assembly and a commemorative walk were key moments of the day. During the assembly, students explored topics such as the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, ongoing land disputes, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Youth. The outdoor walk featured four reflective stations. At one stop, students listened to a residential school survivor’s podcast and wrote their thoughts in chalk. At another station, they learned about the importance of Land Acknowledgements.
One station highlighted TRC Call to Action #63, where students signed a banner showing their commitment to advancing Indigenous education. The final station involved creating a memorial banner that now hangs in the cafeteria, displaying students’ personal reflections on orange paper shirts with the message “Every Child Matters.”
Through these meaningful activities, Centennial CVI students engaged deeply in the significance of Truth and Reconciliation, fostering a sense of reflection, community, and responsibility.