Honouring the children who never returned home, the Survivors, their families, and communities. A day to reflect, remember, and reaffirm our commitment to truth, healing, and reconciliation.
This September, our team at NWR FASD Society came together with community members to honour Every Child Matters and take time for remembrance and learning. From painting a crosswalk on September 2 to participating in Orange Shirt Day activities on September 30, these experiences gave us opportunities to connect and reflect on the importance of truth and reconciliation.
September 2, staff rolled up their sleeves to paint an Every Child Matters crosswalk in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Community volunteers joined us, generously sharing their time and helping bring the project to life.
The crosswalk is a visible reminder of the importance of honouring Indigenous children and remembering the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. It also brings the message of Every Child Matters into a space our community uses every day.
A heartfelt thank you goes to every staff member and community volunteer who helped with the painting. Your time and effort made this project possible, and we truly appreciate everyone who showed up to create something meaningful for our community.
Sidewalk painting
September 30:
On September 30, our staff took part in activities throughout the day to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day is inspired by residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad’s experience of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school. Its message, Every Child Matters, calls us to remember the children who never returned home, honour Survivors and their families, and recognize the lasting impacts of the residential school system.
The morning began at the Youth Building with a meaningful Blanket Exercise, facilitated by the High Level Native Friendship Centre. This guided experience invited participants to learn about the history and experiences of Indigenous People, including the impacts of colonization, the loss of lands, and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities across generations. Through storytelling, reflection, and shared learning, participants were given an opportunity to deepen their understanding, build empathy, and reflect on the importance of reconciliation, respect, and walking forward together.
For our team, the day offered time to pause, learn, and connect with one another and with the wider community. Our team prepared and cooked lunch together, then shared a meal that included moose meat. It was a chance to sit together and spend time with colleagues during a day of remembrance.
After lunch, our staff went to the High Level Native Friendship Centre to participate in its September 30 activities. We took part in T-shirt painting and spent time with others attending the gathering.
We appreciated the opportunity to join the community in this gathering. Taking part together gave our team time outside our usual work routines to connect and reflect on why this day matters.
Learning to Set Up a Tipi
We then had the opportunity to learn how to set up a tipi together. This hands-on experience added another opportunity for learning to our day. We are grateful to those who shared their time and knowledge and helped our team take part.
Both the crosswalk painting and our September 30 activities reminded us that remembrance and learning belong in our everyday community life—not only on one day of the year. At NWR FASD Society, we value opportunities to listen, build relationships, and continue learning with respect.
Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and community members for being part of these experiences.
