Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, September 30, 2026

September 29th, 2026

A Message from Chief and Council

Orange Shirt Day & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, 2026

Culture is How We Heal

To our members, Survivors, Elders, youth, and all those who walk alongside us,

On behalf of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council, we join communities across the country in recognizing Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

September 30 is a day to honour Survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on the lasting impacts of these institutions on Indigenous Peoples, families, and Nations. It is a day grounded in truth, remembrance, and our shared responsibility to ensure these histories are never forgotten.

The day is inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at residential school. Her experience has become a powerful symbol of the loss of identity, culture, language, and belonging experienced by generations of Indigenous children. Her message reminds us that Every Child Matters.

For Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, this day carries deep significance. It is a time to honour Survivors who continue to share their truths, remember those who never came home, and stand with the families who continue to carry that loss. It is also a moment to reflect on the progress we have made and the work that remains on the path toward reconciliation.

In recent days, our Nation has experienced both challenge and strength. While some have chosen intimidation, division, and denialism, we have also witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of support, solidarity, compassion, and encouragement from across the region and country. For every message, prayer, and act of kindness, we offer our heartfelt thanks. Those gestures remind us that respect is stronger than hate, truth is stronger than denial, and community is stronger than division.

As Secwépemc people, our strength has always come from remaining grounded in who we are. Our teachings call on us to treat one another with respect, uphold our responsibilities to family and community, and carry ourselves with dignity. We will not allow the actions of others to pull us away from those values. We will continue to lead with humility, courage, unity, and respect.

Our resilience comes from our culture. Despite generations of efforts to erase our language, traditions, and way of life, Secwépemc people remain strong. Our language is spoken, our songs are sung, our stories are shared, and our ceremonies continue to bring our people together. Because of the strength of our ancestors, Elders, and Survivors, our Nation continues to grow stronger with every generation.

This year, our message is simple: Culture is How We Heal and Culture connects us to our identity, lands, language, and one another. Healing happens when our children know who they are, when Survivors are honoured, and when communities come together in understanding and respect. Healing happens when we reclaim and celebrate the teachings that have sustained our people since time immemorial.

As we mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we encourage everyone to listen to Survivors, learn the history of residential schools, challenge misinformation and denialism, and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation in their daily lives.

Let us meet ignorance with education, division with unity, and hatred with the strength of our identity. Because when we stand together in our culture, our values, and our truth, we are reminded of who we have always been.

We are Secwépemc. We are resilient. We are still here.

Kukwstép-kucw.

Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council

Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir (Chief)

On behalf of Tk̓wenem7íple7 (Council)

Official Release | Click Here