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National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Events in Victoria BC

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We are starting the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation early.

We will be selling Orange Shirt cookies for $5 each all week.

These beautiful cookies were lovingly donated by our very own Colleen Black, the newest member of our sales team. All proceeds will go to the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. Payments can be made by cash or credit/debit.

2021 National Day of Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day Events in Victoria, BC

Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony

The community is invited to wear orange and attend the Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony on Thursday, September 30 from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Centennial Square.

Xe xe Smun’ eem means “Sacred Children” in the Cowichan or Quw utsun language.

Join them for a blessing of the land and welcome, and the Orange Shirt Day flag raising followed by a moment of silence to honour and remember those who did not survive residential school.

The event will include Indigenous performances and guest speakers who will share their personal experiences with residential schools and reconciliation.

Event organizers Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray will speak to the importance of raising awareness about residential schools to honour the more than 6,000 children who died, and the sacrifices that were made by 150,000 residential school survivors and their families across Canada.

All are welcome to this free event which will happen rain or shine. Please dress for the weather. Masks are recommended.

Residential school survivor Eddy Charlie and friend Kristin Spray are organizing the Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters event, which they developed in 2015 while attending the Indigenous Studies program at Camosun College. This is the fifth consecutive year that the City of Victoria is supporting the event to mark the City’s commitment to reconciliation. Last year, the event was held virtually and broadcast live on the City’s Facebook page.

For more information on Orange Shirt Day and where you can purchase these items in the community, visit: victoriaorangeshirtday.com.

Orange Shirt Day at the University of Victoria

Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The day is organized into three events that represent the past, present and future, starting at 9 a.m., noon and 3:30 p.m. Speakers will discuss the history of residential schools and the role of education in reconciliation and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.

The university is also hosting film screenings at Cinecenta on Sept. 27 and 28.

> uvic.ca/event/orange-shirt-day

 

National Reconciliation Day Ride

Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon
Starting and ending at Centennial Square

Capital Bike and Victoria Orange Shirt Day are hosting a bike ride in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, with stops at locations of significance to the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ people where organizers will share stories about each stop’s history.

> gobybikebc.ca/greater-victoria/2021/09/21/announcing-reconciliation-day-ride

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ReconciliAction Oak Bay

Sept. 30 from 10 to 11 a.m.
At the Sno’uyutth Welcome Pole, in front of Oak Bay High School

A group of community organizations invites residents to an event honouring residential school survivors, their families and the children who never came home. Members of the Songhees Nation will be present to share their wisdom.

ReconciliAction Oak Bay is also hosting a film screening of Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, 1701 Elgin Rd.

> stmarysoakbay.ca/events/honouring-children-and-survivors/2021-09-30

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Open house at Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Sept. 30 from noon to 5 p.m.
1040 Moss St.

The art gallery is welcoming visitors to view their two current exhibitions for free, which offer starting points for conversations around reconciliation. Holding Ground is an Indigenous-led exhibition that examines the history and continuation of Indigenous resistance.

> aggv.ca/events/national-day-for-truth-and-­reconciliation

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Unveiling of territorial acknowledgement plaque

Sept. 30 at 11 a.m.
Hampton Park, 3401 Tillicum Rd.

Hampton Little League is unveiling a permanent sign in the park acknowledging the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt nations.