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Welcome to Vancouver Island Regional Library

Home / Read, Watch, Listen / Audience / Indigenous Interest / Truth and Reconciliation

Indigenous Interest

  • Indigenous History Month
  • Truth and Reconciliation
  • Red Dress Day
  • Witness Blanket
  • Syeyutsus 2025
  • Indigenous Artwork
  • Indigenous Veterans Day

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours Indigenous children forcibly taken from their families to attend residential school.  From the 1880s to 1996, more than 150,000 Indigenous children attended federal government funded, church run residential schools.  Children experienced widespread abuse, malnourishment, neglect, loss of culture, and isolation from their families and communities. An estimated 3,200 children died while attending residential schools, but the number of deaths is likely much higher due to poor record keeping.  This federal statutory holiday, established in 2021, is one of 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008-2015).

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots, Indigenous-led movement to honour children who attended residential school. Phyllis Webstad, from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, was six years old when she arrived at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School (near Williams Lake) in 1973. She was excited to attend school, proudly wearing a shiny new orange shirt that her grandmother had purchased for her. When she arrived at school, all of Phyllis’s clothes were taken from her, including her orange shirt, never to be returned. Phyllis said, “The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing.”

Phyllis Webstad – On Orange Shirt Day

On September 30, we wear orange to honour Phyllis and all children who attended residential schools, reflect on the harm caused by the residential school system, and affirm that “Every Child Matters,” deserving love, kindness, and respect.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time for learning, reflection, and acknowledgement.

As we move through grief and cultivate paths forward, we must acknowledge the shared legacies entwined in our service region so that we can provide services with intention and care, that are barrier-free.

Vancouver Island Regional Library opened its first branch in 1936. During our organization’s history five Indian Residential Schools operated on and near our service region. In addition, many Indigenous children from VIRL’s service area were forcibly sent to Indian Residential Schools in the lower mainland and the interior of British Columbia.

There were over 20 Indian Day Schools operating in VIRL’s service area throughout the organization’s history, with the last one closing in 1988. Indian Day Schools were located close to or on reserve lands and were another assimilation tool used by the Canadian Federal Government and churches that resulted in intergenerational trauma.

Nanaimo Indian Hospital, which operated from 1946 to 1967 was the only Indian Hospital operating in VIRL’s service area throughout the organization’s history. The building of Indian Hospitals in Canada was initially justified by the excuse of reducing the spread of tuberculosis, but they soon became the sites of atrocity and experimentation.

WHERE TO FIND SUPPORT

Support is available for those who need it. Please contact:

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS), toll free: 1-800-721-0066

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line 24 hrs, toll free: 1-866-925-4419

The KUU-US Crisis Line Society 24 hrs. toll free: 1-800-588-8717 or online kuu-uscrisisline.com

The BC Metis Crisis Line: 1-833-638-4722

Find more support and crisis lines here.

Resources

Learn more about residential schools and Reconciliation in Canada by exploring these resources.

Where to Find Orange Shirts

Indigenous Retailers

  • Almost Famous Designs
  • Feral Fawn
  • Hope and Health
  • I-Hos Gallery
  • Indigenous Marketing Solutions
  • Indigenous Nations Apparel Co.
  • Metis Trading Post
  • Native Northwest Apparel 
  • Nikikw
  • Nish Tees
  • Old Tribes
  • Orange Shirt Society 
  • Pride Dragons
  • Red Rebel Armour
  • Resist Clothing Company
  • S and K Collective
  • Snaw-Na-As Market
  • Strong Nations
  • Totem Design House
  • Turtle Island Market
  • Turtle Lodge Trading Post
  • Victoria Orange Shirt Day
  • Wolf Pack Apparel 

Non-specified/Settler Retailers

  • Kit and Kaboodle 
  • Leading Edge Promo
  • London Drugs
  • South Island Crafts
  • UVic Bookstore
  • Urban Valley Tees

Read Online

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Learn about the Commission and read the final report.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: This archive and collection presents a foundation for ongoing learning and research. View your family records, search for schools on the interactive map, watch video testimonials.

The University of British Columbia Residential School History and Dialogue Centre: Learn about residential schools, Indian day schools, Indian hospitals and the Sixties Scoop on this interactive website. Includes records and research support for survivors.

The Royal British Columbia Museum Learning Portal: On this webpage designed for young learners, read about residential schools, watch videos, and explore artifacts from the Royal BC collections.

Assembly of First Nations – Residential Institutions and Reconciliation  AFN’s Rights and Justice sector advocates for the families and survivors of residential institutions, seeking accountability, culturally healing supports for First Nations, and to mend their relationship with Canada.  Provides an annual report card on progress toward realizing Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2023 report card).

Indigenous Watchdog  Reports on how reconciliation is advancing on the critical issues that are impacting the Indigenous world – including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Yellowhead Institute Indigenous-led research and education centre at Toronto Metropolitan University.  Resources include Calls to Action accountability:  a 2023 status update on reconciliation.

Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action  Government of Canada’s progress in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action.

Podcasts

Kuper Island: A CBC podcast in 8 parts that tells the stories of survivors of the Kuper Island residential school on Penelakut Island. Hosted by Duncan McCue

Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s: Investigative journalist Connie Walker delves into her father’s past at the St. Michael’s residential school of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. This podcast is available exclusively on Spotify.

Other Resources / Donate

Indian Residential School Survivors Society: A BC provincial organization that provides support to residential school survivors.

Orange Shirt Society – An organization founded by Phyllis Webstad with the slogan “Every Child Matters” that operate with the goal of promoting reconciliation and bringing awareness to the experiences of residential school survivors.

Legacy of Hope Foundation –  National, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that promotes healing and reconciliation through education and raising awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential School System and Sixties Scoop.

Reading About Residential Schools: Adults

Beyond the orange shirt story : a collection of stories from family and friends of Phyllis Webstad before, during, and after their residential school experiences Cover
Beyond the orange…
Young Adult
Broken circle : the dark legacy of Indian residential schools Cover
Broken circle :…
Adult
Call me Indian : from the trauma of residential school to becoming the NHL's first Treaty Indigenous player Cover
Call me Indian…
Adult
Did you see us? : reunion, remembrance, and reclamation at an urban Indian residential school Cover
Did you see…
Adult
Finding my talk : how fourteen Native women reclaimed their lives after residential school Cover
Finding my talk…
Adult
Five little Indians Cover
Five little Indians
Adult
Five little Indians Cover
Five little Indians
Adult
From Bear Rock Mountain : the life and times of a Dene residential school survivor Cover
From Bear Rock…
Adult
Genocidal love : a life after residential school Cover
Genocidal love :…
Adult
In the shadow of the red brick building Cover
In the shadow…
Adult
kâ-pî-isi-kiskisiyân = The way I remember Cover
kâ-pî-isi-kiskisiyân = The…
Adult
Kukum Cover
Kukum
Adult
Picking up the pieces : residential school memories and the making of the Witness Blanket Cover
Picking up the…
Adult
Porcupines and china dolls Cover
Porcupines and china…
Adult
Reconciliation & Indigenous justice : a search for ways forward Cover
Reconciliation & Indigenous…
Adult
The boy from Buzwah : a life in Indian education Cover
The boy from…
Adult
The education of Augie Merasty : a residential school memoir Cover
The education of…
Adult
The fire still burns : life in and after residential school Cover
The fire still…
Adult
The fire still burns : life in and after residential school Cover
The fire still…
Adult
The red files Cover
The red files
Adult
They called me Number One : secrets and survival at an Indian residential school Cover
They called me…
Adult
They called me Number One : secrets and survival at an Indian residential school Cover
They called me…
Adult
Tsqelmucwílc : the Kamloops Indian Residential School--resistance and a reckoning Cover
Tsqelmucwílc : the…
Adult
Tsqelmucwílc : the Kamloops Indian Residential School--resistance and a reckoning Cover
Tsqelmucwílc : the…
Adult
Up Ghost River : a chief's journey through the turbulent waters of Native history Cover
Up Ghost River…
Adult
Xwist memin kin =
Xwist memin kin…
Young Adult
Read More

Reading About Reconciliation: Adults

21 things you may not know about the Indian Act : helping Canadians make reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a reality Cover
21 things you…
21 things you may not know about the Indian Act : helping Canadians make reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a reality Cover
21 things you…
Amplifying Indigenous voices in business : Indigenization, reconciliation, and entrepreneurship Cover
Amplifying Indigenous voices…
Honouring the truth, reconciling for the future : summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Cover
Honouring the truth,…
Inconvenient skin = nayêhtâwan wasakay Cover
Inconvenient skin =…
Indigenous relations : insights, tips & suggestions to make reconciliation a reality Cover
Indigenous relations :…
Indigenous relations : insights, tips & suggestions to make reconciliation a reality Cover
Indigenous relations :…
Let the people speak : oppression in a time of reconciliation Cover
Let the people…
Namwayut : we are all one : a pathway to reconciliation Cover
Namwayut : we…
Namwayut : we are all one : a pathway to reconciliation Cover
Namwayut : we…
North of nowhere : song of a Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Cover
North of nowhere…
ohpikinâwasowin : growing a child : implementing Indigenous ways of knowing with Indigenous families Cover
ohpikinâwasowin : growing…
Our spirits aligned : Aboriginal voices of healing and reconciliation Cover
Our spirits aligned…
Peace and good order : the case for Indigenous justice in Canada Cover
Peace and good…
Reconciliation & Indigenous justice : a search for ways forward Cover
Reconciliation & Indigenous…
Reconciliation manifesto : recovering the land, rebuilding the economy Cover
Reconciliation manifesto :…
Sharing the land, sharing a future : the legacy of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Cover
Sharing the land,…
The Canadian business owner's guide to reconciliation : best practices for Indigenous inclusion Cover
The Canadian business…
True reconciliation : how to be a force for change Cover
True reconciliation :…
True reconciliation : how to be a force for change Cover
True reconciliation :…
Truth telling : seven conversations about Indigenous life in Canada Cover
Truth telling :…
Truth telling : seven conversations about Indigenous life in Canada Cover
Truth telling :…
Unreconciled : family, truth, and Indigenous resistance Cover
Unreconciled : family,…
Unsettling Canada : a national wake-up call Cover
Unsettling Canada :…
Valley of the Birdtail : an Indian reserve, a white town, and the road to reconciliation Cover
Valley of the…
Warrior life : Indigenous resistance & resurgence Cover
Warrior life :…
We all go back to the land : the who, why, and how of land acknowledgements Cover
We all go…
MORE

Reading About Residential Schools: Children & Teens

Abalone woman Cover
Abalone woman
Juvenile
Avec nos coeurs orange Cover
Avec nos coeurs…
Juvenile
Beyond the orange shirt story : a collection of stories from family and friends of Phyllis Webstad before, during, and after their residential school experiences Cover
Beyond the orange…
Young Adult
Fatty legs : a true story Cover
Fatty legs :…
Juvenile
I am not a number Cover
I am not…
Juvenile
I lost my talk Cover
I lost my…
Juvenile
I'm finding my talk Cover
I'm finding my…
Juvenile
Ispík kákí péyakoyak = When we were alone Cover
Ispík kákí péyakoyak…
Juvenile
Les bas du pensionnat : une histoire vraie Cover
Les bas du…
Juvenile
Mangilaluk : a graphic memoir about friendship, perseverance, and resiliency Cover
Mangilaluk : a…
Young Adult
My name is Seepeetza Cover
My name is…
Juvenile
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Cover
National Day for…
Juvenile
On the side of the angels Cover
On the side…
Young Adult
Orange shirt day : September 30th Cover
Orange shirt day…
Young Adult
Phyllis's orange shirt Cover
Phyllis's orange shirt
Juvenile
Poppa and his drum : a heartwarming story of truth and reconciliation Cover
Poppa and his…
Juvenile
Quand j'avais huit ans Cover
Quand j'avais huit…
Juvenile
Residential schools : the devastating impact on Canada's Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings and calls for action Cover
Residential schools :…
Young Adult
She holds up the stars Cover
She holds up…
Juvenile
Speaking our truth : a journey of reconciliation Cover
Speaking our truth…
Juvenile
Speaking our truth : a journey of reconciliation Cover
Speaking our truth…
Juvenile
Spirit bear : fishing for knowledge, catching dreams : based on a true story Cover
Spirit bear :…
Juvenile
Spirit bear : honouring memories, planting dreams : based on a true story Cover
Spirit bear :…
Juvenile
Stolen words Cover
Stolen words
Juvenile
Sugar Falls : a residential school story Cover
Sugar Falls :…
Young Adult
The journey forward : a novella on reconciliation. Cover
The journey forward…
Juvenile
The orange shirt story Cover
The orange shirt…
Juvenile
The secret pocket Cover
The secret pocket
Juvenile
The train Cover
The train
Juvenile
The witness blanket : truth, art and reconciliation Cover
The witness blanket…
Juvenile
Today is Orange Shirt Day Cover
Today is Orange…
Juvenile
Tyson's new orange shirt  Cover
Tyson's new orange…
Juvenile
When I was eight Cover
When I was…
Juvenile
White Raven Cover
White Raven
Juvenile
With our orange hearts Cover
With our orange…
Juvenile
Xwist memin kin =
Xwist memin kin…
Young Adult
MORE
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