CUE Marks National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) and Orange Shirt Day on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The day honours the children who never returned home, survivors of residential schools, and their families and communities.

Established in response to Call to Action #80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the National Day serves as a reminder of the lasting intergenerational impacts of residential schools. Orange Shirt Day, first observed in 2013, emphasizes the message that “Every Child Matters.”

CUE will be closed on September 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In the days leading up to it, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to wear orange on September 29 to honour Orange Shirt Day.

President Dr. Tim Loreman noted that the day is both solemn and hopeful:

This is a day to remember the painful legacy of residential schools, but also to renew our commitment to reconciliation through learning and action. At CUE, we are called to reflect on the past while working to build a better future together“

CUE invites its community and the public to engage in acts of reflection, education, and solidarity, including:

• Wearing an orange shirt to show support for “Every Child Matters.” You can buy your student designed orange shirts from the bookstore for $15.00+GST. Info about the design and artist here.
• Registering and joining us for one or all of kihêwak kâpimihâcik’s 3-part Teaching Series (Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 24), with sessions on Truth and Reconciliation, Humour as Medicine, and Kinship Systems—sessions are free and open to all.
• From September 18–25 (anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.), joining others on campus at kihêwak kâpimihâcik to take part in making a pair of rock moccasins. Beginning September 26, visit the completed rock moccasin display on Schwermann Lawn—a tribute that honours survivors and deepens understanding of Indigenous histories and cultures.
• Listening to a recorded conversation between President Loreman and Danielle Powder, Manager of the kihêwak kâpimihâcik, as they discuss truth and reconciliation and the role of the centre.
• Exploring CUE’s Residential School Resource List, available through the CUE Library.
• Reading and reflecting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report and considering how they connect to your work, studies, or daily life.
• Attending community and virtual events commemorating survivors and raising awareness of the residential school system.

Danielle Powder emphasized the importance of reclamation of culture and language to Indigenous peoples:

“At the Centre, we help Indigenous students know who they are and where they come from. Reclaiming what was lost through residential schools—through language, ceremony, and shared stories—heals us individually and strengthens our community. Offering cultural programs, ceremonies, and Indigenous Studies honors the Calls to Action, but the work continues. By standing together, we ensure that everyone is safe, valued, and respected.”

CUE is located on Indigenous lands and territories now called Treaty Number Six territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation, District Nine. The North Saskatchewan River has been a significant place for the Blackfoot, Dene, Nakoda Sioux, Cree, Saulteau, and Métis since time immemorial. We honour and respect the agreements made by our ancestors to live in good relations for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the river flows.

Over the past year, CUE advanced reconciliation and Indigenization through academic integration and student support. More than one-third of Indigenous students accessed services through kihêwak kâpimihâcik, while 15 courses incorporated Indigenous content. Indigenous enrolment at CUE now stands at 170 students, or 7.3% of the domestic student body. CUE’s 2024–29 Research and Innovation Strategic Plan also prioritizes Indigenous methodologies and ethical data governance.

“Reconciliation is woven into our mission,” said Loreman. “It is in how we teach, how we support our students, and how we work together as a community.”

Support Resources

We recognize that learning about residential schools may be difficult and encourage care and self-compassion. Support is available through:

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS): 1-800-721-0066
• National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
• Edmonton Distress Line (24/7): 780-482-4357