National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023

HVH recognizes that September 30th, 2023, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Please join us throughout the week of September 25th-29th in wearing orange as an act of solidarity, awareness, and remembrance. HVH will be raising a flag on September 29th in recognition.

What is Orange Shirt Day?

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative that honours the children and survivors of residential schools and remembers those who did not. The day relates to the

experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

Source: Government of Canada (2022). National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html