Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters Ceremony
Noon to 2:30 p.m., Centennial Square
To mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, September 30, in Victoria, the community is invited to head to Centennial Square for an Orange Shirt Day flag raising followed by a moment of silence to honour and remember those who did not survive residential school.
According to organizers, the event will include Indigenous and non-Indigenous performances and Indigenous guest speakers who will share their personal experiences with residential schools and reconciliation.
The flag will be lowered to half-mast after the ceremony.
The event is free to attend and masks are recommended.
The name of this event, Xe xe Smun’ eem, means “Sacred Children” in the Cowichan or Quw’utsun language.
Honouring Our Children and Survivors on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Maffeo Sutton/Swy-a-Lana Park, Nanaimo
Snuneymuxw First Nation, along with the City of Nanaimo, will be holding an event at Maffeo Sutton Park in honour of the lost children and survivors of residential schools where a new Welcome Pole will be unveiled in the park.
The Welcome Pole which will be a permanent fixture at the park was carved by Snuneymuxw carver Noel Brown and will stand 15 metres tall.
As part of the event, stories will be shared by Snuneymuxw Elders and there will be live performances at the Lions Pavilion.
National Reconciliation Day Ride
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting and ending at Centennial Square
Capital Bike and Victoria Orange Shirt Day are teaming up for the first-ever National Reconciliation Day Ride.
“This knowledge-sharing ride will start at Centennial Square and will stop at locations of significance to the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen/Songhees) and W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) People on whose lands we live, work, and ride,” reads the event description.
Organizers will share stories at each stop about the location’s history.
If you know of an event that isn’t on this list, please e-mail us at [email protected] with any details.
Every Child Matters March in Duncan
The M’akola Housing Society is organizing a march in honour of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
The March start line is at Vancouver Island University/University Roundabout and will end at Cowichan Tribes, Si’em Lelum soccer fields on River Road.
The March kicked off at 9:30 a.m. and once it concludes, post-march events are planned.
Drums and mementos are encouraged in order to leave at the steps of City Hall.
Masks are mandatory.
Open house at Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Noon to 5 p.m.
On September 30 the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will be open from 12pm-5pm for a free Public Open House on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The community is invited to attend the gallery in order to see their two current exhibits for free.
“We hope that both staff and visitors will use the day to reflect on how the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission report can be acted on in their own lives. The ideas and artworks presented in two of our current exhibitions, Emily Carr: Seeing and Being Seen and Holding Ground, offer many starting points for conversations around truth and reconciliation and the calls to action,” reads a statement from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Orange Shirt Day walk in Campbell River
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spirit Square
The Laichwiltach Family Life Society will be hosting the event on September 30, beginning at 11 a.m.
Chief Wedlidi Speck from the Namgis First Nation will be delivering a speech following the walk and the event will also include time to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools.
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If you know of an event happening that is not currently on this list, feel free to e-mail us at [email protected] with details.
CHEK News
