The Law Society honours the Indigenous people who were forced to attend Canada’s residential schools, the survivors, the children who never came home, along with their families and communities. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 is a time to reflect and participate in meaningful discussion about the ongoing intergenerational impacts and trauma caused by the painful legacy of residential schools.
We encourage everyone in the legal profession and beyond to take this opportunity to deepen their understanding of our colonial history and the consequences of the residential school system, and to reflect on how we can collectively advance meaningful Reconciliation. Here are some resources and ways to get involved:
- Purchase and wear an orange shirt on September 30. Ensure you purchase from an official retailer so that $10 from every shirt sold goes to the Orange Shirt Society. You can also donate directly to help create awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Indian Residential Schools and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.”
- Attend events in your community or online. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is offering virtual programming and resources from September 22¬ to 26, 2025. The lunch and learn sessions cover residential school survival, ground searches, child welfare impacts, TRC Calls to Action and confronting denialism. The week also includes a livestream of the Orange Shirt Day ceremony on Parliament Hill.
- The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC) at UBC addresses the colonial legacy of residential schools and other policies imposed by the Canadian government on Indigenous peoples, and ensures that this history is acknowledged, examined and understood. Explore the centre’s collections, exhibitions, podcasts, films, or plan a visit to the centre.
- The National Film Board of Canada provides a selection of films by Indigenous filmmakers and allies about the tragic impact of residential school survivors in Canada.
- Read the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) final report, which documents the history and legacy of the residential school system based on testimonies from over 6,500 witnesses. The report, including a volume on missing children and unmarked burials, offers crucial insights for all Canadians.
- Listen to the Legacy of Hope Foundation, Federal Indian Day School series podcast with survivor, Dolores Peltier. Dolores recalls her school experiences, noting that most teachers punished students, and that even as a valedictorian, she struggled in provincial high school, a challenge many survivors face.
- Support vital Canadian organizations that provide essential services to residential school survivors and Indigenous communities, such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society and the Indigenous Friends Association. Local groups like the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver also run Indigenous support programs and welcome donations of items like clothing, toiletries, and blankets.
- Residential school survivors and their families can call 866.925.4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada. Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1.855.242.3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.
