September 30 is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known?in many elementary schools and communities?as Orange Shirt Day. It?s meant for people to reflect on the history of residential schools, and the survivors that live on today. 
I?m Anishinaabe, and I think this day can be viewed as progress?it’s a forward-moving concept. Never before have so many Canadians paid attention to the issue of residential schools. In the spring, non-Indigenous families across the nation hung orange shirts from their front porches, piled shoes and teddy bears on the steps of government buildings, and cut out 215 orange hearts for the children found on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School in Kamloops. But that was four months ago now. It?s hard to know if everyone still cares as much. Can wearing an orange T-shirt, and incorporating some Indigenous history into the lesson plan for a single day in September, really create the kind of change we truly need"  My partner and I are raising our daughter on Treaty 6 lands of Poundmaker Cree Nation, in Saskatchewan. We do talk about Orange Shirt Day somewhat, but conversations on residential schools, the treaty relationship with the lands we live on, and the history of Indigenous people is interwoven into our daily family life. It’s not just one day. It differs from family to family, but some children already hear of their moshums? and kokums? experiences at residential schools during visits. T...