British Columbia Law
September 30 — Truth & Reconciliation Day: Reflection for All Canadians
<h2>September 30 — A Day That Belongs to All of Us</h2>
<p>Every year on September 30, Canada marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day set aside for reflection — to take time, as a country and as individuals, to understand how Indigenous, Aboriginal, and First Nations peoples in Canada were treated over generations, and to consider how we can reconcile the past and build a better future together.</p>
<p>This day is also widely observed as Orange Shirt Day — named for Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. The orange shirt has become a symbol of the harm done to Indigenous children who were separated from their families, communities, languages, and cultures, and of the resilience of survivors.</p>
<h2>Why This Day Matters — For Everyone</h2>
<p>It can be tempting to see Truth and Reconciliation as something that concerns only Indigenous peoples — a matter of history that doesn't touch daily life.
But the day invites a deeper reflection: when we treat anyone differently because we consider them somehow different from ourselves — whether because of their culture, religion, skin colour, politics, or any other reason — we harm not just that person, but ourselves and our society as a whole.</p>
<p>The residential school system was not an accident of history. It was a deliberate policy, implemented by the Canadian government and churches, designed to sever Indigenous children from their languages, cultures, and families. The harms it caused — to individuals, families, and communities — continue to ripple forward to this day. Understanding that history is the first step toward genuine reconciliation.</p>
<p>We are all equally human. We are all equally deserving of respect and opportunity. These are not radical ideas — they are the foundation on which a just society is built. September 30 is a reminder to live them.</p>
<h2>The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Legacy</h2>
<p>The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), which concluded in 2015, documented the experiences of residential school survivors through thousands of testimonies gathered across the country.
Its final report included 94 Calls to Action — specific recommendations addressed to governments, churches, educational institutions, the media, businesses, and all Canadians — calling for concrete steps toward reconciliation in areas including child welfare, education, language, health, and justice.</p>
<p>In BC, many of the TRC's Calls to Action directly affect the legal system. The recognition of Indigenous title and rights, the reform of child protection laws to better reflect Indigenous family structures and cultural connections, and the incorporation of Indigenous legal traditions into BC courts are all part of the ongoing work of reconciliation within the law.</p>
<h2>Reconciliation and the Law in BC</h2>
<p>For BC families involved in the legal system — particularly in family law and child welfare matters — reconciliation has practical legal dimensions. The BC Family Law Act recognizes the cultural identity of Indigenous children as a factor in parenting arrangements.
The Child, Family and Community Service Act has been amended to require cultural plans for Indigenous children in care. And landmark court decisions have established that Indigenous title is a proprietary interest in land with attributes similar to fee simple ownership that must be respected in resource development and land use decisions.</p>
<p>The legal relationship between the Canadian state and Indigenous peoples is still being worked out — in courtrooms, in treaty negotiations, in legislative chambers, and in communities. September 30 is a reminder that this work belongs to all of us.</p>
<h2>A Reflection from Sea to Sky Law</h2>
<p>Sea to Sky Law operates in Sapperton, New Westminster — on the unceded traditional territory of the Qayqayt First Nation and the broader Stó:lō peoples. We acknowledge with gratitude that we live and work on this land, and we recognize our responsibility to contribute to the ongoing work of reconciliation — not just on September 30, but throughout the year.</p>
<p>For more resources on Indigenous history, rights, and reconciliation in BC, visit our <a href="/aboriginal-resources-bc">Aboriginal & Indigenous Resources page</a>, which includes links to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights' land and water acknowledgment, and many other organisizations working in this space.
<p><em>The human race can survive and achieve greatness — together.</em></p>
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