The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is a time for Canadians to recognize and commemorate the ongoing and tragic legacy of residential schools.

The devastating recoveries at residential schools over the past year are sorrowful and stark reminders that we must all do more and continue to learn more.

On this important day of recognition, I encourage all McMaster students, faculty, and staff to reflect and have meaningful conversations about the impact of residential schools and to honour the survivors.

We all have a responsibility to listen and to learn more about the voices, experiences, and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples.

To mark the day on September 30th, there will be commemoration events hosted by McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Program, Indigenous Education Council, Indigenous Research Institute, Indigenous Student Services, and Indigenous Health Learning Lodge. For those who are walking across main campus the evening of September 30, you’ll also notice many of the buildings will light up orange as part of a National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) initiative to honour the children who did not come home from residential schools, survivors and their families.

At McMaster, we aspire to embed an approach that engages and respects a diversity of peoples, perspectives, and ways of knowing, in everything we do. We also know there is much work to be done to achieve true systemic change.

I hope you will join me as we work together in the spirit of reconciliation to continuously learn and work toward a better future.

Sincerely,

David Farrar