Sept. 30 is the day kids and adults across Canada are encouraged to wear orange, as a way to honour Indigenous residential school survivors. It also serves as a reminder that every child in Canada matters — including Indigenous kids, who have a history of being mistreated.

In 2021, Orange Shirt Day is taking on a new and important role in reconciliation, which is the process of healing the relationship between Indigenous and nonIndigenous people. Going forward it will be known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

CBC Kids News asked a group of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to share their thoughts on Sept. 30 and why it’s meaningful to them.

Watch the video to hear from these Indigenous changemakers:

Mya Beaudry, the founder and CEO of Kokom Scrunchies.
Cindy Blackstock, a child welfare activist with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
Alicia Cardinal, a teacher, TikToker and fancy shawl dancer.
Blake Desjarlais, a twospirit member of Parliament for the NDP.
Shawnee Kish, an awardwinning singersongwriter.
Haley Paetkau, a kid who designs orange shirts for charities.

CBC Kids News is a website for kids, covering the information you want to know. Real Kids. Real News. Check it out at CBCKidsNews.ca.

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