CBC is set to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 with special programming on various platforms such as CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC News, and CBC Radio. The commemoration will include a live national event, a prime-time radio special, and a selection of streaming films and documentaries focusing on Indigenous individuals.
This day is dedicated to remembering the children who were lost in residential schools, as well as acknowledging survivors, their families, and communities. Sept. 30 is also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, inspired by Phyllis Webstad, a survivor of a Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) residential school, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of school at the age of six. Wearing orange is a symbol of unity, remembrance, and the belief that “Every Child Matters.”
The live national commemorative gathering, “Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” will be broadcast from Parliament Hill in Ottawa at 12 p.m. ET. The event, presented by CBC/Radio-Canada, APTN, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), will feature residential school survivors, elders, Indigenous leaders, and artists from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The program will include sacred ceremonies and performances by various artists. Viewers can tune in to CBC platforms to watch the event. Additionally, CBC Radio will air a one-hour special program, “Reconciliation on the Record,” at 8 p.m. local time, discussing the progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
CBC Gem offers a Truth and Reconciliation Collection featuring Indigenous-led films and documentaries exploring Indigenous histories and cultures. Notable works include “Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising,” “Tautuktavuk (What We See),” and “What We Carry.”
Artwork by Emily Kewageshig, an Anishinaabe artist, commissioned by CBC Arts, is also being showcased. Moreover, CBC provides resources for further learning about residential schools and reconciliation, including exploring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Archives.
The article highlights various ways to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, such as wearing an orange shirt, attending community events, and accessing mental health support services like the Hope for Wellness Helpline and the Indian Residential School Crisis Line.