Notable Acknowledgements
Understanding Truth and Reconciliation
As an Indigenous organization, we are deeply committed to supporting our communities in meaningful ways. One of the ways we do this is by raising awareness and sharing knowledge about important events and days that hold cultural, historical, or social significance to our people.
We recognize the importance of these occasions not only in honouring our culture and traditions but also in fostering a sense of unity and pride within our communities. By highlighting these events, we aim to educate, engage, and inspire everyone to come together in celebration, reflection, and mutual respect. We believe that by providing this knowledge, we can help bridge gaps in understanding, promote cultural appreciation, and build stronger, more inclusive connections both within and beyond our community.
Our goal is to ensure that these important days are recognized, respected, and remembered, and that our communities feel seen and valued in all aspects of society. We invite everyone to join us in this journey of learning and honouring our Indigenous peoples: First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 2026
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
A day to pause, remember, reflect, and recommit.
September 30 is a day to honour the children who never returned home, Survivors of residential schools, their families, and the generations who continue to carry the impacts of these systems.
But Truth and Reconciliation is not the work of one day.
At the Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning, this work lives in the relationships we nurture, the cultures and languages we strengthen, the stories and teachings we carry forward, and the learning spaces we create that honour Indigenous knowledges, ways of being, and ways of knowing.
It lives in the everyday choices we make as educators, leaders, families, and communities, to listen, to learn the truth, to honour Indigenous knowledges, and to strengthen the relationships that connect us to one another, our communities, and the Land.
September 30 invites us to pause, remember, reflect, and recommit. As we move beyond this day, may we continue carrying this responsibility with us, not only today, but every day throughout the year.
Allyship
Truth and Reconciliation asks each of us to consider our role in this work, and allyship is one of the ways that role takes shape. Being an ally means listening more than speaking, learning the truth about our shared history, and using what we learn to take meaningful action in support of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and self-determination. It is an ongoing practice, not a title, and it grows through humility, relationship, and a willingness to keep learning.
Please visit our Learning in the Moment to watch the following videos, featuring teachings on allyship from Diane Longboat.
Books for Children
Books to share with young children on September 30 and throughout the year.
Phyllis’s Orange Shirt
Written by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Brock Nicol
Phyllis Webstad is Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. This book is an adaptation of her The Orange Shirt Story and is suitable for 4 to 6 year-olds. While based on the original story, this version has been simplified, shortened, has a rhyming scheme and gentler images.
This is Phyllis’s story of living on the Dog Creek Reserve picking berries, gardening and fishing. One day she goes to town and picks out an orange shirt, which becomes her favourite.
She wears this to her first day at residential school and it has become a symbol, especially on September 30th, that every child matters, from all nations around the world, residential school survivors and children who didn’t come home.
Today is Orange Shirt Day
Written by Phyllis Webstad
Today, we gather together
Today, we listen
Today, we learn
Today, we open our hearts
A first conversation about the importance of Orange Shirt Day (Every Child Matters) and what little ones can expect to see and do on Orange Shirt Day (the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation).
Every Child Matters
Written by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Karlene Harvey
This beautiful and empowering picture book shares the meaning behind the phrase “Every Child Matters.” Phyllis Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Day, has an important message: “If you’re a Residential School Survivor or an Intergenerational Survivor, you matter. For the children who didn’t make it home, you matter. The child inside every one of us matters. Every Child Matters.”
When We Were Alone
Written by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
Through the eyes of a young girl and her grandmother, this book delicately explains the history and impact of residential schools. The grandmother shares stories with her granddaughter about her past, highlighting how Indigenous children were taken away and how they found ways to hold on to their identity. The story is both sensitively told and beautifully illustrated.
When We Are Kind
Written by Monique Gray Smith
When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives.
Support Indigenous Stories & Indigenous Owned Bookstores
One way we can carry the work of Truth and Reconciliation beyond September 30 is by being intentional about the stories, voices, and knowledges we bring into our learning spaces.
We encourage you to seek out books written and illustrated by Indigenous Peoples and, whenever possible, purchase directly from Indigenous owned bookstores and publishers. In doing so, we not only bring authentic Indigenous voices into our programs, but also support Indigenous authors, artists, businesses, and communities.
Explore the Indigenous owned bookstores and publishers below and consider how the books you discover can become part of your learning throughout the year.
Goodminds
Strong Nations
Activities for Educators to Do with Children
Every Child Matters… This is Me
Activity
Educators can offer orange construction paper cut into the shape of a T-shirt, or children can participate in tracing, drawing, or cutting their own shirt depending on their age, interests, and abilities. The T-shirt can be offered as one possible way for children to engage with the experience, alongside other open-ended opportunities to explore the colour orange and express their ideas.
For example, younger children may choose to explore orange paint through finger painting, brushes, sponges, or other tools, while older children may prefer to draw, paint, collage, or create their own representation. Children’s words and ideas can be documented alongside or within their creations.
The words:
can be offered as an invitation for conversation and reflection.
Educators can invite children to think about themselves, the people and communities they belong to, and the things that are meaningful to them. The conversation should remain open-ended and child-led, allowing each child to express their identity and sense of belonging in a way that is meaningful to them. Children do not need to create a particular finished product in order to participate.
Educators can use simple prompts such as:
- “What makes you special?”
- “What makes you kind?”
- “What do you like about yourself?”
- “What is something you are proud of?”
- “What makes you happy to be you?”
- “Who are some of the people who are important to you?”
- “What is something that is important to you or your family?”
Where children choose to share their thinking, educators can record the child’s own words alongside their creation. Children can use colours, drawings, symbols, people, marks, paint, collage, or other forms of expression that are meaningful to them. Educators may also provide materials that reflect the children’s observed interests and preferred ways of creating.
Throughout the experience, educators can reinforce the message that every child matters, not because of something they do, create, or accomplish, but simply because of who they are.
Our Connection to the Land Activity
Connection to Truth and Reconciliation
Truth and Reconciliation is about strengthening the relationships that connect us to one another, our communities, and the Land. Residential schools took Indigenous children away from their families, communities, languages, cultures, and the Land. Helping children slow down, notice, and give thanks for the land is one way we honour Indigenous knowledges and ways of being, and begin to understand that caring for the land is a responsibility we carry every day.
Activity
Begin by gathering together and sharing, in age-appropriate words, that September 30 is a day to remember that every child matters and to show care for one another and for the land.
Educators will invite children on a slow outdoor walk to notice and appreciate the land around them. Encourage children to use their senses to observe what they see, hear, smell, and feel. The goal is not to collect as much as possible, but to slow down, notice, and build a relationship with the land and the natural world.
Educators can use simple prompts such as:
- “What do you notice around you?”
- “What can you hear?”
- “What do you think lives here?”
- “What is your favourite thing you noticed?”
- “What does the land teach us?”
- “How does the land take care of us?”
- “How can we take care of the land?”
Encourage children to practice caring for the space as they walk by leaving growing plants where they are, being gentle with living things, putting litter in the appropriate place, and noticing ways people can help care for the land. Talk together about how caring for the land is a responsibility we carry every day, not only on September 30.
After returning indoors, invite each child to create a picture of something they noticed or appreciated on the walk. Children may draw a tree, plant, animal, insect, water, sky, rocks, or another part of the land that was meaningful to them.
Educators can record the child’s words alongside their artwork using the prompt:
Children’s artwork can then be displayed together to create an “Our Connection to the Land” wall.
Ways to carry this learning forward
- Revisit the wall throughout the year, adding new pictures and words in each season.
- Invite local Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or family members to share teachings about the land, following local protocols.
- Learn together the words for the places, plants, and animals in your community in the local Indigenous language.
Resources to Support Your Learning
Videos
- Reconciliation Begins with You and Me
- Being a good Indigenous Ally
- How to be an ally to Indigenous People in Canada
- In Our Voices: Being an effective Ally to Indigenous communities
- Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad answers kids’ questions
- Talking to kids about Residential Schools
- Resilience and the power of one | Monique Gray Smith | TEDxLangleyED
- What is reconciliation? Indigenous educators have their say
- What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know
- Sen. Murray Sinclair: How can Canadians work toward reconciliation
- Together, We Can Make a Difference
- Why are land acknowledgments important? Naomi Bob: Indigenous Voices on Reconciliation
Podcasts
- Episode 3 with Dr. Gail Lafleur and Don CouchieWe Need to Talk About Bryce Podcast
- Episode 4 with Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Elder Randy FredWe Need to Talk About Bryce PodcastContent note: this episode includes graphic descriptions of assault, sexual assault, and suicide.
Online Resources
- The Survivors Speak
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: University of ManitobaEarly Years Education Resources
- How to be an Ally
- Reconciliation Education
- Orange Shirt Day Resource by Niwasa
- What is Orange Shirt Day?CBC Kids
- First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
- Children and Spirit Bear Make HistoryCelebrates young Indigenous advocates and the work of Dr. Cindy Blackstock
- Spirit Bear’s Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
- Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams
- Jordan’s Principle
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Articles
- Ball, J. (n.d.). Cultural safety in practice with children, families and communities.
- Tuck, E., & Yang, K. W. (2012). Decolonization is not a metaphor.
Recommended Books for Educators
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality
- Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation
- I Am Not a Number
- Seven Fallen Feathers
- All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward
- From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way
- Braiding Sweetgrass
Reflection Questions
As we reflect on Truth and Reconciliation, consider how this responsibility lives within our everyday relationships, learning, and practice.
- What teachings, knowledge, or assumptions might I need to continue learning about, questioning, or unlearning?
- How can I ensure that culture is lived, experienced, and woven throughout the program, rather than treated as an activity or special event?
- How will children and families experience Truth and Reconciliation through my everyday practice, not only on September 30, but throughout the year?
Carrying the Work Forward
Truth and Reconciliation does not end when September 30 has passed. It continues in the relationships we nurture, the truths we are willing to learn, the knowledges we honour, and the choices we make each day.
As we move forward, may we continue to listen, learn, reflect, and act with intention. May we create spaces where Indigenous children see themselves, their families, their cultures, languages, and communities reflected, valued, and celebrated.
Reconciliation is not something we simply talk about, it is something we carry through our relationships and our actions.
The work continues tomorrow, the next day, and every day that follows.
Truth. Relationship. Responsibility. Reconciliation.Every day.
Bear Witness DayHonouring Jordan’s Principle
Standing with First Nations children and families in the continued pursuit of equity, dignity, and care.
Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. Bear Witness Day calls us to hold that truth close and act on it.
Why We Bear Witness
Bear Witness Day takes its name from Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation who spent the first years of his life in hospital, waiting for two levels of government to agree on who would pay for his home care. Jordan passed away in hospital in 2005, before that agreement was ever reached. He never made it home.
His story led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle, a child-first legal obligation that ensures First Nations children can access the services they need, without being caught in jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial governments. On May 10 each year, we gather in spirit to honour Jordan, to renew our understanding of his legacy, and to recommit to a future where no child falls through the cracks.
For those of us working in early years and early childhood education, this day is not only a moment of reflection. It is a call to keep asking: are the children and families we serve truly receiving what they need?
Jordan’s Principle Today
Jordan’s Principle covers a wide range of services for First Nations children, including mental health, respite care, medical equipment, educational supports, and more. While progress has been made, advocacy continues to ensure the principle is applied fully and fairly. Bear Witness Day keeps that conversation alive in homes, classrooms, and communities across the country.
Ways to Honour Bear Witness Day in Your Setting
We encourage educators and program teams to mark this day in ways that feel genuine and meaningful for your community. Here are some ideas:
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Place a teddy bear where children can see it This small act carries a big meaning. Teddy bears have long been a symbol of Bear Witness Day, a gentle, visible reminder that we are watching, we are listening, and we care about the wellbeing of First Nations children.
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Invite children to express what fairness looks like to them Through drawing, painting, or storytelling, children can explore ideas of care and belonging in ways that are developmentally right for them. Their voices matter in this conversation.
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Share Spirit Bear stories Books from the Spirit Bear series, developed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, introduce Jordan’s Principle through compassionate storytelling. They are written for young children and are a wonderful way to open conversation.
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Wear orange or bear-themed clothing as a team Solidarity shows up in small ways too. Wearing a common colour or symbol helps build a sense of shared purpose among staff, families, and the children you work with.
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Take time for team reflection Gather with your colleagues to talk honestly about how your program supports equity for Indigenous children. What is going well? Where are there gaps? What would it look like to do more?
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Share information with families A short note home about Bear Witness Day, written with care and focus on hope and action, helps extend this learning beyond your classroom walls. Families are partners in this work.
Resources to Support Your Learning
Jordan’s Principle, Government of Canada
Official information on eligibility, how to apply, and what services Jordan’s Principle covers for First Nations children.
canada.ca/jordans-principleFirst Nations Child and Family Caring Society
The home of Bear Witness Day. Find classroom resources, Spirit Bear books, activity guides, and community events.
fncaringsociety.com/BearWitnessSpirit Bear and Jordan’s Principle (APTN)
A short film for younger audiences that tells Jordan’s story with warmth and clarity. Well suited for educator learning.
Watch on YouTubeSpirit Bear Book Series
A collection of illustrated books designed for classrooms and family settings, exploring equity and belonging through Spirit Bear’s adventures.
fncaringsociety.com/publicationsFamily Letter
Ready to print or share digitally with the families in your program.
Dear Families,
This week, we are joining communities across the country in honouring Bear Witness Day, observed each year on May 10. It is a day that holds real meaning for us, and we wanted to take a moment to share it with you.
Bear Witness Day was created in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a little boy from Norway House Cree Nation who was born with a complex medical condition. For the first two years of his life, Jordan lived in a Winnipeg hospital, not because he had to medically, but because the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his care at home. Jordan passed away in 2005, at just five years old, still waiting for that answer. He never got to go home.
Jordan’s story moved so many people that it became the foundation for Jordan’s Principle, a commitment that First Nations children will always come first, and that no child will be denied services because of a disagreement between governments. The principle covers things like health care, mental health supports, educational resources, and more.
On Bear Witness Day, we ask everyone to pause and reflect. To remember Jordan. And to think about what it means to truly stand up for the children in our communities.
In our program today, children may:
- See a teddy bear displayed in our space, a symbol used to bear witness to Jordan’s story and the ongoing work of Jordan’s Principle.
- Listen to a story about Spirit Bear, a character from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society who helps children learn about fairness and care.
- Take part in an art activity where they share what kindness and fairness look like to them.
These activities are gentle and age-appropriate. Our goal is not to teach difficult history to young children, but to plant seeds of empathy, care, and belonging. We believe that children who grow up knowing that every person matters are better prepared to walk in good relationship with others.
If you have questions, or if you would like to talk more about Bear Witness Day and what it means, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to connect.
Thank you for trusting us with your children, and for joining us in this learning.
With gratitude and care,
Red Dress Day
A Day of Remembrance
& Solidarity
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People
As educators walking alongside young children and families, we hold a sacred responsibility to create spaces of belonging where every life is honoured, every story is held with care, and every child feels the strength and beauty of the women, girls, and 2Spirit people in their communities. Red Dress Day reminds us that this work is not separate from early learning — it lives within it.
In the songs we sing, the stories we share, the care we show, and the relationships we nurture, we affirm that Indigenous lives matter. Justice begins with how we show up every single day. We invite you to engage with the resources and supports below, and to carry this day forward with cultural humility, solidarity, and love.
Carol Roberts, Educator and Author
Carol Roberts is a St’at’imc and Sto:lo educator, author, and Faculty Lecturer in the Teacher Education Department at UBC. She brings more than 20 years of experience supporting Indigenous education and decolonizing practice, and shares her guidance on approaching Red Dress Day with young learners.
Watch her conversation on the Talking with Teachers YouTube channel, where she speaks directly to educators about honouring MMIWG2S with young children in age-appropriate, culturally respectful ways.
Watch on YouTube: Talking with TeachersEducator resources & lesson plans at carolynroberts.net →
Tessa’s Red Dress: Honouring Love and Family
This beautiful new picture book uses age-appropriate and empathetic language to introduce young children to Red Dress Day and the importance of honouring MMIWG2S. Through the eyes of young Tessa, readers follow a family preparing for a Red Dress Day march, holding the memory of a missing auntie with love, story, and connection. Backmatter pages support parents and educators in navigating this conversation with children.
Order from Medicine Wheel Publishing →Wear red in solidarity. Share with children that red is a special colour used to honour important people in our communities.
Create a quiet display with red fabric, ribbons, or a simple red dress alongside a respectful message for families.
Engage children in creating red hearts, flowers, or fabric art while talking about kindness and care for all people.
Take time as a team to learn about the history and ongoing impact of MMIWG2S using the resources listed below.
Share a thoughtful family communication focused on respect, honour, and solidarity rather than graphic details.
Reflect together on how your learning environment affirms the strength and presence of Indigenous women and girls every day.
Ready to share with families and caregivers
Dear Families and Caregivers,
On Monday, May 5, we will be acknowledging Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People. This day was created to honour those who are missing and taken, and to stand together as a community in support of their families and loved ones.
In our program, we will be wearing red as a symbol of solidarity and love. We may have a small display in our space that invites children to notice the colour red and talk about caring for the people in our lives. Our conversations with children will be gentle, age-appropriate, and focused on themes of kindness, community, and honouring the important people in our families.
We are guided in this work by Carol Roberts, St’at’imc and Sto:lo educator and author of the new picture book Tessa’s Red Dress: Honouring Love and Family. This book offers a tender and age-appropriate way to talk with young children about Red Dress Day, and we are glad to share it with your family.
If you have questions or would like to talk further, please reach out. We are grateful to walk this learning journey alongside you.
With care and respect,
[Program Name]
Ontario Aboriginal Head Start Association Member Site
Copy and personalize this message for your program newsletter, email, or take-home communication.
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National Inquiry into MMIWG: Final Report and Calls for Justice mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/
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Talking with Teachers: Carol Roberts on Red Dress Day https://youtu.be/U5-6pfkZwx4?si=cgSlQbH5yLHhCaBh
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CBC Kids News: Red Dress Day, What It Is and How It Began cbc.ca/kidsnews
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Carol Roberts: Teacher Talks, Lesson Plans, and Educator Resources carolynroberts.net
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Tessa’s Red Dress by Carol Roberts: Book and Educator Backmatter Medicine Wheel Publishing
Our goal is not to teach traumatic details to young children, but to model respect, empathy, and allyship in age-appropriate and culturally respectful ways. Centring Indigenous voices and leadership is essential to doing this work well. We thank you for joining us in standing in solidarity, raising awareness, and continuing the journey toward justice and healing.
We honour and remember Savannah, a valued member of our community whose kindness, dedication, and spirit touched many lives.
Savannah’s work and presence reflected a deep care for children, families, and colleagues. She brought warmth, generosity, and a willingness to support others in ways that strengthened the relationships around her. Her contributions helped nurture spaces where learning, respect, and community connection could grow. While Savannah is no longer with us, the impact she made continues through the people she supported, the relationships she helped build, and the care she shared with those around her.
We extend our deepest condolences to Savannah’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her. She will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
We invite you to share a memory, message, photo, or reflection in honour of Savannah.
Your words will help create a collective space of remembrance for all who knew and cared for her.
Please click the yellow “Post” button to share your memories or photos.
On National Indigenous Languages Day, we honour the strength, resilience, and beauty of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit languages. Indigenous languages carry identity, worldview, and deep connection to land and community. In early years environments, language is more than communication, it is belonging. When children hear their languages spoken, sung, and celebrated, they see themselves reflected and affirmed.
Language carries memory.
Language carries future.
Language carries us.
Suggested Children’s Books for Early Years
To support meaningful conversations and language visibility in classrooms, consider:
- Stolen Words by Melanie Florence
- Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
- My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith
- The Water Walker by Joanne Robertson
These stories support identity, belonging, land connection, and language affirmation in age-appropriate ways.
Honouring Indigenous languages is not a one-day practice, it is an ongoing commitment to relationship, learning, and resurgence.
Dear Educators
On September 30, we honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This is a time to reflect on the truths of residential schools and to recognize the strength and resilience of survivors, their families, and communities. It is a reminder that every child matters and a call to move beyond acknowledgement into meaningful action.
Heart Learning Commitment:
Through our Heart Learning: A Journey of Allyship and Reciprocity series, we continue to build and deepen relationships with Indigenous communities, creating spaces of respect, reciprocity, and connection. Guided by the voices and stories of Indigenous Peoples, we carry forward the responsibility of reconciliation as we work together toward a future rooted in truth, healing, and justice.
Explore Resources:
We invite you to view our Notable Acknowledgements presentation below, which shares additional resources, reflections, and ways to engage in this important journey.
Every Child Matters: Orange Shirt Day Learning Guide
Understanding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Thank you for joining us in honouring Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together, we can continue to listen, learn, and act in ways that uphold truth, respect, and healing.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21st, we take time to honour the rich histories, cultures, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Turtle Island. This day is a time for reflection, learning, and continued commitment to walking in good relations.
In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day and the launch of Shared Pathways, we invite you to engage with our Padlet reflections—and in doing so, enter our Book Bundle Giveaway!
Rooted in the traditional practice of giving, this giveaway honours Indigenous values of generosity, community care, and knowledge sharing.
🪶 Each bundle includes 3 thoughtfully selected books focused on Indigenous early learning and family wellbeing.
We ask that you:
- Keep one book for your own learning,
- Gift one to a child or family, and
- Offer the third as you feel called, to honour the spirit of reciprocity and pay it forward.
📌 Contribute to the Padlet by June 27, 2025 to be entered into the draw.
Let’s walk this learning journey together—with kindness, humility, and care
May 6, 2025
On May 10, we invite you to join us in honouring Bear Witness Day—a powerful moment in our collective journey for justice, equity, and fairness for First Nations children.
This day is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation. His story gave rise to Jordan’s Principle, a legal obligation ensuring First Nations children have equitable access to the services they need, when they need them.
As educators shaping the earliest experiences of children, Bear Witness Day reminds us to hold space with cultural humility—to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and act meaningfully.
Ways ECEs Can Honour Bear Witness Day
🧸 Display teddy bears in your classroom to “bear witness”
🎨 Invite children to share what fairness and care mean to them through art
📚 Read Spirit Bear stories to introduce Jordan’s Principle with compassion
🧡 Wear orange or bear-themed clothing in solidarity
🗣 Reflect as a staff team on how your environment supports equity for Indigenous children
Resources to Support You
- Jordan’s Principle – Government of Canada
canada.ca/jordans-principle - First Nations Child and Family Caring Society – Bear Witness Day
fncaringsociety.com/BearWitness - Spirit Bear and Jordan’s Principle Video (Short film by APTN)
🎥 Watch here - Spirit Bear Book Series for Classrooms
📚 fncaringsociety.com/publications/spirit-bear-books
April 28, 2025
On May 5, we come together to honour Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People.
As educators, we have a unique opportunity to create gentle awareness within our learning environments while holding cultural humility — a commitment to listen, learn, and honour Indigenous experiences and leadership.
Red Dress Day, inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s powerful installation, calls us to remember those who are missing and taken, and to raise our collective voices for justice, healing, and change.
Here are ways you can acknowledge Red Dress Day with young children and families:
🌹 Wear Red: Staff are encouraged to wear red in solidarity. Share with children that red is a special colour used to honour important people.
🌹 Create a Gentle Display: Set up a quiet space with red fabric, ribbons, or a simple red dress. Include a short message for families about the significance of the day, respecting the sensitive nature of the topic.
🌹 Storytelling and Art: Engage children in creating red hearts, flowers, or fabric art while discussing kindness, community, and care for all people.
🌹 Educator Reflection: Take time as a team to learn more about the history and ongoing impact of MMIWG2S. Resources will be provided to support personal and professional reflection.
🌹 Communicate Thoughtfully: Share a message with families (like this one) about Red Dress Day, ensuring that the focus remains on respect, honour, and solidarity, rather than graphic details.
Canadian Resources to Learn More
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – Final Report (Download PDF) : The National Inquiry’s Final Report and Calls for Justice
- Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) : Provides a toolkit with information and resources for Red Dress Day
- Red Dress Day Information from CBC : CBC Kids News article
- Office of the Treaty Commissioner :Features a booklet on window art activities related to MMIWG
Remember:
Our goal is not to teach the traumatic details to young children, but to model respect, empathy, and allyship in age-appropriate and culturally respectful ways.
We thank you for joining us in standing in solidarity, raising awareness, and continuing the journey toward justice and healing.
February 11, 2025
February 4, 2025
October 24, 2024
Orange Shirt Day – September 30th