September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - a day to recognize and reflect on the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities, to honour those who have been affected by this injustice, and to ensure public commemoration of this history as a vital part of the reconciliation process.
Orange shirts available at the Campus Store
In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, administrative offices will be closed and there will be no classes or labs on Tuesday, September 30.
September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day , which began in 2013 to honour Indigenous children forced to leave their families to attend residential schools.
Orange t-shirts are available for purchase at the Campus Store, with proceeds going to the Mikmawey Debert Cultural Centre. Members of the SMU community are encouraged to wear their orange shirts to campus on Monday, September 29, ahead of the September 30 closure.
Events on campus
Reflecting on the TRC’s Calls to Action 10 Years Later
NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 22-26
September 25, 2025
2 p.m.
CLARI (Atrium 340)
Join members of the SMU community for a Zoom event hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba. This session will reflect on the decade which has passed since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action were published, including how many of the Calls have been fulfilled and what is still holding back progress. It will feature TRC Commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson, founding Executive Director of the NCTR Ry Moran, and will be moderated by author Connie Walker.
The NCTR is hosting daily Lunch and Learn webinars for Truth and Reconciliation Week from September 22-26. Topics include discussions with experts and community members about the Residential School system, ground searches and corporate reconciliation efforts. All sessions will have simultaneous English, French and ASL interpretation. See all webinar events here.
Woven Together
September 25, 2025
7 p.m.
Loyola Academic 188
Join the Residence Life Multicultural Committee for an evening of friendship bracelet making in recognition of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Materials will be provided.
Reconciliation, what does it mean to you?
September 29, 2025
10 a.m.
Loyola Colonnade
Stop by the Loyola Colonnade (between Tim Horton’s and the C Store) and share what reconciliation means to you. The Residence Life Multicultural Committee will display input from the SMU community on a display board of mini orange t-shirts.
Qomuti - Indigenous student space opens for students
Kylar Johnson, Indigenous Student Advisor, announced the naming of the student space in June 2025
Located in Loyola Academic Room 268, Qomuti (pronounced ho-mo-dee) is a Mi’kmaw word meaning “a place of safe haven.” This space was created through community consultation and is intended to be a welcoming home on campus for Indigenous students to gather, study, share, smudge, and feel rooted in culture and connection.
The Indigenous Student Space was designed in consultation with students and built with intention: a space where Indigenous learners can study, share, smudge without barriers and feel seen. While the room has quietly served students since fall 2024, the June 2025 naming ceremony marked a formal celebration of what it has already come to represent: a sense of home.
Kylar Johnson unveils the plaque for The Seven Sacred Teachings art piece by Loretta Gould
The space includes a vibrant installation within the Indigenous Student Space by Mi’kmaw artist Loretta Gould. Titled “The Seven Sacred Teachings”, the work was selected by Indigenous students from a collection of options. Depicting seven Indigenous figures standing in unity beneath a glowing sunset, each figure wears distinct regalia with animal imagery representing one of the Seven Sacred Teachings: love; respect; courage; honesty; wisdom; humility; and truth. The installation’s mosaic-like composition and vibrant colour palette capture themes of community, identity, and continuity. For the students who chose it, it serves not only as a visual centrepiece but also as a source of inspiration and reflection. Learn more about the space.
Community events and resources
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
September 30, 2025
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, 2021 Brunswick Street, Halifax
September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada. The day recognizes the legacy of the Residential “school” system, the missing children, the families left behind, and the intergenerational impacts of this shared history.
Programs across the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre will have tables in the Joan Glode Room with resources and hands-on activities geared towards taking reconciliatory action at the neighbourhood level.
Begin or continue your Reconciliation journey by attending Truth & Reconciliation: Every Day Action sessions throughout the Fall Program. Additionally, check out their Reconciliation Resources page for more information.
"The Gifts We Carry": Youth Gathering for Teachers & Students
NCTR 2024 Youth Empowerment event
Presented by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, this 2-hour live educational gathering is a highlight of NCTR’s Truth and Reconciliation Week programming, “Me’j Tekweyulkul Kina’matnewe’l wjit teli-Kpma’ltultimk” – We still carry with us the lessons on how to treat one another with the greatest respect – will immerse you in the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture, music, dance and history while honouring Residential School Survivors. It is designed to open a dialogue with young people about the truth of Canada’s residential school system.
Watch the stream of this event, which took place at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on September 18.
Patrick Power Library
Permanent Mi'kmaw Heritage Exhibit – Visit the Library to see Ta’n Etl-klo'tasik koqoey (a phrase meaning “where the items are kept or taken care of”), an exhibit celebrating the enduring legacy and culture of the Mi’kmaq people. This exhibit features a collection of Mi’kmaw cultural objects selected by community members, and on loan from the Nova Scotia Museum.
The Patrick Power Library has developed a resource collection that includes books and videos related to Truth and Reconciliation. All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card or accessed online using your SMU email and password.
Other resources to support learning and reflection about Indigenous culture and experience include:
Indigenous Studies Research Guide – Your starting point for academic and community-based resources on Indigenous research topics, featuring suggested journals, search strategies, databases, government information and other resources.
SMU Theses on Mi’kmaw and Indigenous Research – Discover original research by Saint Mary’s University community members in the Institutional Repository.
Indigenous Peoples of North America Database – A digital archive covering the political, social, and cultural history of Indigenous Peoples from the sixteenth century into the twentieth century. Access is available through the Library.
Streaming Media Collections – Watch Indigenous films and documentaries through the NFB, CBC Curio, Films on Demand, Audio Cine and Criterion databases. Access is available through the Library.
Learn more about Indigenous history, perspectives and culture through the Saint Mary’s lens.
Related links
More information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Check smu.ca/dining for information on hours of operation for September 30.