Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad / Orange Shirt Day
- Date
- September 30, 2025
- Time
- 9:00 AM EDT - 4:00 PM EDT
- Location
- 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
- Open To
- Students, faculty, staff and community members
- Contact
- Indigenous events team indigevents@torontomu.ca
Photo: Red Works Photography
Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad / Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occur annually on September 30. It is a commemorative day of recognition and awareness-raising about the impacts of the Indian Residential School system and government policy imposed on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad / Orange Shirt Day originated from the story of Phyllis Webstad (external link) , who is a residential school survivor.
What to expect
All TMU community members are invited to join the Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad / Orange Shirt Day events to honour and commemorate the survivors of Indian Residential Schools and remember the children who did not return home.
We begin with virtual presentations hosted by the Woodland Cultural Centre (external link) the week before September 30th.
On September 30th, the day begins with an opening, followed by a presentation, hands-on craft session, an Indigenous Feast, a silent memorial walk on campus and a live broadcast from Parliament Hill.
Attendees are encouraged to wear orange to show solidarity and respect to survivors and their families.
Please note you must be registered to participate in all activities.
You can register in-person at the registration table on the 8th floor at the Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
Agenda
September 26, 2025 | Virtual Sessions
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Virtual Tour of the Former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School hosted by Woodland Cultural Centre
Location: Online via Zoom
The tour of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, gives the history of the school from when it opened in 1831, until it closed in 1970. Participants will see different rooms in the school, from the meeting room, the girls’ and boys’ dorms, the third floor, cafeteria, and various rooms in the basement. After the presentation participants will have the opportunity to ask questions or share comments with the Cultural Interpreter.
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Truth and Reconciliation presentation hosted by Woodland Cultural Centre
Location: Online via Zoom
This comprehensive presentation by the Woodland Cultural Centre (formerly the Mohawk Institute Residential School) covers topics from the imperial context, from Canada's Indigenous policy, the Indian Residential Settlement Agreement, to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Participants will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the TRC's final report, its 10 principles and 94 calls to action. The presentation will offer insight into the progress report, examples of implementations, personal acts of reconciliation, barriers to reconciliation and an explanation of what reconciliation is not.
September 30, 2025
8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. | Check-in Registration & Networking
Location: 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.) Pre-registration and check-in day of event at Registration table.
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Presentation by Dr. McCallum
Nii Ndahlohke (external link) - I work: Boys and Girls Work at Mount Elgin Industrial School, 1980-1915
Location: Virtual or 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
Dr. McCallum is history professor at the University of Winnipeg, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous People, History and Archives, and a band member of the Munsee Delaware Nation. She teaches modern Indigenous history, and her research interests cover many aspects of health, education, and labour, especially with respect to Indian policy and archives. She looks for ways to promote Indigenous history by Indigenous people, including ShekonNeechie.ca and the Munsee Delaware Language and History Group. Major projects she’s working on deal with Munsee Delaware history and Indigenous and colonial histories of health care in Manitoba and information on these projects can be found at: indigenoustbhistory.ca and niindahlohke.ca (external link) .
11:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Hands-on Crafting: Mini Orange Shirt Day Flags
Join the hands-on crafting creating messaging on the Mini Orange Shirt Day flags to carry on the memorial walk.
Location: 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
Photo: Nadya Kwandibens
12:00 p.m. | Indigenous Feast
Location: 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Memorial Walk
Location: Meet in the main lobby of Jorgenson Hall (JOR) (380 Victoria St.)
As you walk, reflect on what it would feel like to attend an institution like TMU where you couldn't speak your language, practice your beliefs or see your family. Consider the experience through the eyes of a child as young as four or five.
At the Normal School façade, participants will be invited to place their paper orange shirts in the soil, symbolizing the contrasting experiences of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. A clean-up team will recycle these items afterward.
3:00 p.m. | Live National Broadcast from Parliament Hill
Option: Join us in the SLC 8th floor or virtual.
For more information and link to the broadcast, refer to link: https://trw-svr.nctr.ca/parliament-hill/ (external link)
Location: Virtual or 8th floor, Student Learning Centre (SLC) (341 Yonge St.)
Accessibility
This event is wheelchair accessible. TMU is committed to the accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities. If you require any additional accessibility accommodations to ensure your full participation, The SLC has an accessible entrance at Gould Street and O'Keefe Lane.
This event is part of reconciliation at TMU
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada released the report Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future (external link) , which outlines the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system and 94 Calls to Action to redress the legacy of those schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.
In response to the TRC’s Education Calls to Action, after two years of community consultations, TMU released the Truth and Reconciliation Community Consultation Summary Report and established the TRC Strategic Working Group, which structured much of TMU’s work toward addressing the Calls to Action.
Today, TMU remains committed to increasing awareness of Indigenous histories, worldviews and cultures and continues to promote inclusion of Indigenous persons and perspectives at the university and foster respectful dialogue and relationships between both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community members. Learn more about TMU’s ongoing work toward Truth and Reconciliation.
Organizer
This event is organized by a collective, Orange Shirt Day Planning Circle of Indigenous and non-Indigenous colleagues, led by Crystal Osawamick.
The committee includes staff from Office of the President; University Events And Ceremonies; Office of the Provost; Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion; Indigenous Initiatives; Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student Services; Rebirthed Teachings; Indigenous Student Association; Alumni Relations; Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching; Indigenous Education Council; Lincoln Alexander School of Law; School of Early Childhood Studies; Student Affairs; School of Medicine and TMU Libraries; the department of the Associate Dean, Engagement and Inclusion, Ted Rogers School of Management.
Crystal Osawamick is the manager of Indigenous events and special projects at TMU.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email Crystal Osawamick, manager of Indigenous events and special projects, at indigevents@torontomu.ca.
Support for Indigenous students, faculty and staff
Indigenous students can access culturally supportive programs and services, including peer support groups and Indigenous traditional counselling through Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student Services.
The Centre for Student Development and Counselling (CSDC) is working in collaboration with Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous Student Services in the OVPECI to offer counselling support to Indigenous students. Indigenous students looking to learn more or book an appointment can contact Lisa LaFreniere at lisa.lafreniere@torontomu.ca and Eden Abraham at eden.abraham@torontomu.ca.
Good2Talk (external link) is a free, confidential and anonymous service for post-secondary students for 24/7 professional counselling. Good2Talk also provides mental health information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being. Access their services immediately by calling 1-866-925-5454 or texting “GOOD2TALKON” to 686868.
Through the university’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), Telus Health, Workplace Wellbeing Services and Indigenous Initiatives have arranged for Michael Diotte (Indigenous trauma counsellor) to be available for individual, confidential, virtual or in-person counselling (Michael is located in Oshawa area).
Indigenous employees (who have self-identified through the Employee Diversity Self-ID Program) can call the Telus Health Care Access Centre at 1-844-880-9142 and request an appointment with Michael.
Indigenous employees who have not self-identified through the Employee Diversity Self-ID Program and wish to access support through Life Works are also eligible for this service. If you have any questions about your eligibility for EFAP services, contact Jennifer Alefounder (Director, Workplace Wellbeing) at jennifer.alefounder@torontomu.ca. Jennifer continues to be a member of the working group that oversees the ongoing resources and support of Indigenous employees.She will be on-site as well for immediate support.
A Talking Circle for Indigenous Staff and Faculty at TMU will be held virtually with Lloyd H Robertson on Tuesday, October 1, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Refer to form to register: https://forms.gle/OSDTalking CircleLloyd (external link)
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma. For immediate crisis support, please call 1-866-925-4419, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.