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.
In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, administrative offices will be closed and there will be no classes or labs on Wednesday, September 30. The Patrick Power Library will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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. Members of the SMU community are encouraged to wear their orange shirts to campus on Tuesday, September 29, ahead of the September 30 closure.
Events on campus
Smudging Ceremony and Webinar
Thursday, September 24, 2026
2:15 p.m. Smudging ceremony in the Quad area
2:50 p.m. Welcome and opening remarks | CLARI (Atrium Room 340)
3:00 p.m. Webinar screening: Honouring Indigenous Leadership: Perspectives for a Shared Future
4:00 p.m. Debrief and discussion
Smudging is a cultural ceremony practised by a wide variety of Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. Although practices differ, smudging is used for medicinal and practical purposes as well as for spiritual ceremonies. The practice generally involves prayer and the burning of sacred medicines, such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage and tobacco. All are welcome to attend.
Honouring Indigenous Leadership: Perspectives for a Shared Future (Webinar)
English with French and ASL interpretation
This session invites participants into a thoughtful conversation on the leadership, truths and lived experiences shaping Indigenous futures across Canada and Turtle Island. Grounded in community knowledge and guided by those closest to the work, the session will explore the realities of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, the ongoing fight for First Nations child rights, and the calls for justice from the MMIWG2S movement.
RSVP here to attend the screening in CLARI
Watch the other daily lunch and learn webinars offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, happening September 21-25.
Residence Life Booth
Monday, September 28, 2026
Join the Res Life team in the Loyola Colonnade outside of Tim Hortons to write “What Truth & Reconciliation means to me” on a paper orange t-shirt. The notes will be posted on the Res Life bulletin board in Loyola Residence.
Qomuti - SMU’s space for Indigenous students
Located in Loyola Academic Room 286, Qomuti (pronounced ho-mo-dee) is a Mi’kmaw word meaning “a place of safe haven.”
Qomuti was designed and named in consultation with students and built with intention: a space where Indigenous learners can study, share, smudge without barriers and feel seen.
To access the space, students can contact Kylar Johnson, the Indigenous Student Advisor. Students can also meet with Kylar in his office located in the Burke Building. Learn more about this space.
Kylar Johnson and students gather in Qomuti
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 is on loan from the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.
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.
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.
The library will be featuring an Indigenous puzzle and Mi'kmaq colouring sheets at the activity table and there will be Orange Shirt Day buttons available while supplies last.
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.