As a young girl, Phyllis was given a new orange shirt by her grandmother before being taken to a B.C. residential school. The shirt was confiscated and destroyed by her teacher on the first day of class. The destruction of Phyllis’s shirt has come to symbolize the colonial goal of residential schools to assimilate Indigenous peoples.  

In 2021, the federal government passed legislation to mark September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This federal holiday is an important part of the reconciliation process that has been called for by Indigenous peoples and by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

Indigenous peoples across Canada continue to face systemic injustices, with funding meant for their communities often diverted to resource extraction and policing rather than the programs and supports they have identified as priorities. This misdirection contributes to environmental degradation and social disparities in Indigenous communities, reinforcing patterns of environmental racism. Recent legislation, such as Bill C-5, has been criticized for undermining Indigenous rights, highlighting the continuing work needed for true reconciliation.

What CUPE locals and members can do:  

  • Download CUPE’s guide on bargaining language for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to find out how you can observe the holiday and support reconciliation efforts. 

  • Show your support on social media. Share a photo of yourself wearing an orange shirt using the hashtag #OrangeShirtDay. Tag CUPE on Facebook @cupescfp, Twitter @cupenat and Instagram @cupe_scfp.  

  • Download our guide to reconciliation for CUPE locals and consider how you and your local can support the calls to action.  

  • Invite an Indigenous speaker to your next virtual or in-person meeting to talk about truth and reconciliation.  

  • Learn more by taking CUPE’s Indigenous awareness workshop and human rights courses.