Orange Shirt Day 2021
- President Kevin Hall and AVP Indigenous Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas
Dear UVic community,
Orange Shirt Day is a national movement that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the spirit of hope and reconciliation, and honours former residential school students, their families and communities. This year, the confirmation of thousands of unmarked graves at the sites of residential schools across Canada has brought attention and urgency to the issue of reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day will take place on Sept. 30, 2021, the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. In recognition, the university campus will be closed on Sept. 30 and Orange Shirt Day on-campus events will take place Sept. 27-29.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility. The University of Victoria, like all educational institutions, has a responsibility to learn about the history of Canada and address our role in perpetuating colonial systems. On Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, we encourage the UVic community to take time to reflect on Canada's history and present, and commit to taking action toward reconciliation.
We know that Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, and conversations about residential schools, can be difficult for members of our community. If you are in need of support, please reach out.
UVic Orange Shirt Day events and shirts
All faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to attend UVic Orange Shirt Day events, including:
- Sept. 27-28: Film screenings at UVic (Cinecenta and First Peoples House)
- Sept. 29: Campus gatherings (held in the quad, throughout the day)
We encourage all faculty, staff and students to wear an orange shirt during the week of Sept. 27 as a visual symbol of our awareness of the need for ongoing action toward reconciliation.
Orange shirts featuring a design by artist Carey Newman Hayalthkin'geme (Kwakwaka'wakw/Coast Salish) are available at the UVic Bookstore. Profits from UVic t-shirt sales directly benefit the Elders Engagement Fund, the Witness Blanket Project and the Orange Shirt Day Society. If you already have an orange shirt, please consider making a $25 donation to the Elders Engagement Fund this year.
Sincerely,
Kevin and Robina
Kevin Hall, PhD, President and Vice-Chancellor
Qwul'sih'yah'maht Robina Thomas, PhD, Associate Vice-President Indigenous
Recorded events
Watch the recorded events from Orange Shirt Day.
Orange Shirt Day 2021: The Past