Every year on September 30th, communities across Canada come together to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. While these are two distinct observances, they are connected by an important purpose: remembering the experiences of Indigenous children and Residential School Survivors, acknowledging the lasting impacts of the residential school system, and reflecting on the ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 and was inspired by the story of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad. When Phyllis was six years old, she received a new orange shirt from her grandmother for her first day of school. When she arrived at the residential school, her clothing was taken away, including her new shirt. Her experience became the foundation for Orange Shirt Day and its powerful message: Every Child Matters.
The orange shirt has since become a symbol of the loss of identity, culture, family, language, and belonging experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools. It reminds us of the importance of ensuring that every child’s identity, culture, and sense of belonging are respected.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, established in 2021, provides an opportunity to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and learn about the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. Truth and reconciliation is not only about looking at the past; it also calls on us to listen, learn, and consider how we can build greater understanding and respect moving forward.
For many Canadians, September 30th is an opportunity to reflect on a part of Canadian history that continues to affect individuals, families, and communities. Wearing orange can be one way to show remembrance and solidarity, but meaningful reconciliation goes beyond wearing a colour. It means taking the time to understand what happened, recognize the experiences of Survivors, and support the ongoing work of Indigenous communities. It is also an opportunity to think about the future we want to create for children. One where they feel safe, valued, connected to their families and communities, and able to grow up with their identities and cultures respected.
As an organization that works directly with children and youth, these values are also reflected in the work we do at Sakeenah. Through our Child & Youth Program, we strive to create supportive spaces where children and youth can learn, participate, build skills, express themselves, and develop a sense of belonging. Our programming provides opportunities for mentorship, tutoring, social-emotional learning, life skills, creativity, and meaningful connection. While our work is distinct from the experiences being remembered on September 30th, the importance of listening to children, respecting their identities, and supporting their well-being is something we deeply value.
The message Every Child Matters connects closely with our work. When we listen to a child, we show them their voice matters. When we encourage them, we remind them they are capable. And when we create safe and inclusive spaces, we help children feel respected, valued, and that they belong.
As we mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I hope we take time to listen, learn, remember, and reflect. Most importantly, I hope we continue carrying the message Every Child Matters into the way we support children and youth, not only on September 30th, but throughout the year.
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
Every night, thousands of women and children in Canada face homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We are on a mission to change that.
While Sakeenah functions at a national level, our head office and The People’s Market operate out of land that is part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
Sakeenah believes that while a land acknowledgement is the first step, we also understand that land acknowledgements alone are not sufficient to redress the harm caused by centuries of land theft, forced displacement and ongoing acts of settler colonialism. We recognize that this work is ongoing and complex, and we are dedicated to doing our part to create a better future for all.
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