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Image courtesy of Anishinaabe visual artist Luke Swinson @lukeswinsonart
September 30 marks both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Today, Choral Canada staff will join Indigenous-led events in our own communities, taking time to honour the children who never came home from residential schools, the Survivors who carry these stories, and the families and communities forever affected by this legacy.
This day reminds us that reconciliation is not something we acknowledge once a year. It is a lifelong journey that asks us to show up with honesty, care, and accountability, every day. The harm caused by residential schools continues to be felt across generations, and we each hold a responsibility to respond with compassion, humility, and commitment.
At Choral Canada, we are working to amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives in our sector. We know progress has been made, but we also recognize how much more there is to do. Strengthening relationships with Indigenous artists, leaders, and knowledge keepers, increasing representation in our organization, and ensuring our programs and initiatives are truly inclusive – these are just some of the ways we continue to move forward.
We are listening, learning, and unlearning, and we encourage our members and friends to walk alongside us in this work. For those of us with privilege, this is a time to reflect on how we can use it to help create justice, equity, and lasting change.
This year, we invite everyone in the choral and group singing community not only to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation but to carry its meaning into your programming, your partnerships, and your daily actions.
Below is a list of events, organizations, resources, and learning opportunities connected to Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. It is not complete, but we hope it can be a place to begin. If you have an Indigenous-led initiative/communication that is national in scope and you would like us to share it, please get in touch with our Communications Manager, Colin Frotten, at [email protected].
Support is available; former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports. Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
Resources
- One Day’s Pay
https://www.onedayspay.ca
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation give one day's pay or what you can afford to Indigenous-led projects, movements, organizations and nations.
One Day’s Pay launched a grassroots campaign on September 30th, 2021, to mobilize settlers and non-Indigenous people in Canada to meaningfully recognize the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to honour their survivors, their families and communities. People across the country responded to One Day’s Pay's invitation to meaningfully act: raising close to $750,000 dollars for Indigenous led projects, movements, organizations and nations over the last three years.
One Day’s Pay is guided by The Circle on Philanthropy, a national Indigenous led organization that works to transform the philanthropic sector to redistribute wealth, activate wisdom and strengthen organizational infrastructure for the purpose of Indigenous peoples, organizations, communities and nations.
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Remembering the Children
https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/parliament-hill
In honour of the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), APTN, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Algonquin Nation have united to produce a 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering, entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The live National broadcast will begin at 3pm EDT on APTN and other supporting broadcasters.
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National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Lunch and Learn
https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/lunch-and-learns
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation recently presented daily Lunch and Learn webinars – an immersive experience to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada. Sessions were aimed at an adult audience and were hosted virtually over Zoom Webinar and streamed to YouTube. Check out the link to view the recordings of each session.
- Ancestors Voices: Music & Learning for National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
https://coalitioncanada.ca/en/ancestors-voices
The Coalition for Music Education has launched a new program that introduces an Indigenous songwriter and their song to classrooms across the country. This curriculum-based music program is meant to acknowledge National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and to honour the children who didn’t return home, the survivors, and all others whose lives have been impacted by residential schools. The 2024 featured artist is award-winning singer-songwriter Julian Taylor.
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CBC News' Beyond 94
https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94
A webpage dedicated to monitoring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. Latest update: April 23, 2025.
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APTN 2025 Programming
https://www.aptntv.ca/ndtr
September 30th marks an important day for APTN as they broadcast special programs in honour of the survivors of residential, day, and boarding schools, alongside their families and the children who were never able to return home. Their informative and insightful series and documentaries will delve into the diverse culture and history of Indigenous Peoples.
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Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF): A Day To Listen
September 30, 2025 | 6AM – 6PM Local Time
https://downiewenjack.ca/a-day-to-listen
In recognition of the NDTR on September 30, the DWF is proud to partner once again with major media outlets and radio stations throughout Canada for this special event. This year’s theme is AThe Path Here, The Path Ahead.
It’s been a decade since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its Final Report and 94 Calls to Action, challenging all of us, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to confront the past and work toward a better future. This A DAY TO LISTEN, we reflect on 10 years of reconciliation with special guests who will share powerful insights on what brought us to this moment and where we can go from here.
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Culture Days NDTR Events
https://culturedays.ca/en/resources/truth-and-reconciliation
Culture Days has created a space exclusively for events organized to commemorate the NDTR, including those aimed at sharing First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit experiences and perspectives and uplifting the creative and cultural expressions of Indigenous people and communities. Find events happening across Turtle Island on September 30 and a list of resources to explore.
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Kanata: Contemporary Indigenous Artists and their Music – MusiCounts
https://musicounts.ca/en/programs/musicounts-learn
A learning resource that supports teachers in bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives, and music into classrooms.
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Indigenous Canada: CBC Music Playlist
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-music-playlists/37-indigenous-canada
From roots and rock to hip hop and hand drums – Canadian Indigenous music is an invite to a cultural experience across all genres. Hear: Don Amero, Caley Watts, the Halluci Nation, Terry Uyarak, Wolf Saga and more.
