Orange shirt sales, NDTR learning and food drive happening at MSB – Sep 26 & 27

Every year to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), we wear orange to honour survivors and ancestors who died at residential schools, as well as families and communities who continue to be affected. We encourage members of Temerty Medicine to wear their orange shirts in the last week of September (Sep 25-29).

Orange Shirt Sale Days

Tuesday September 26 & Wednesday September 27 from 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Medical Sciences Building

Drop by MSB (across from the Starbucks) on Tuesday September 26 & Wednesday September 27 from 11:00AM – 2:00PM to pick up educational materials and purchase an orange t-shirt designed by the Ganawishkadawe Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health (GCWP-IH) & Temerty Medicine Office of Indigenous Health teams. Shirts will be $20 (cash only).

The proceeds from sales and non-perishable food donations will go to Tungasuvvingat Inuit, an urban services provider that offers community supports for Inuit of all ages.

If you miss these days to purchase an orange shirt at MSB, we encourage everyone to visit the GCWP-IH information booth at Women’s College Hospital on Thursday September 28 from 1:00PM – 3:00PM.

Panel Event – ART AS MEDICINE: HONOURING THE SACRED SPIRIT OF OUR STORIES

Wednesday, September 27 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. | WCH Auditorium

Attend a moderated discussion focused on the transformative power of Indigenous art and storytelling practices. Panelists share their insights on how artistic expression furthers community connection, challenges negative stereotypes, and nurtures & strengthens kinship to push back forces of fracture imposed by colonial assimilation policies and the residential school system.

Opening Remarks: Jack Woodman, VP Strategy, Quality, Risk & Privacy
Traditional Opening & Closing: Elder Kawennanoron Cindy White
Moderator: Dr. Lisa Richardson, Strategic Lead in Indigenous Health
Panelist: Elwood Jimmy, artist
Panelist: Leslie McCue, artist

In-person only. Register now at: bit.ly/GCWP-Art

Additional engagement opportunities

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Inclusive Employer Guide: Please feel free to circulate this guide broadly so that you and members of your division can familiarize yourselves with the meaning and traditions that are significant to many.
• Film Screening & Talk: Muffins for Granny – Sep 28: Nadia McLaren (Educator, Office of Indigenous Health) will be speaking at a screening of her documentary film, Muffins for Granny. Muffins for Granny is a remarkably layered, emotionally complex story of personal and cultural survival. Nadia tells the story of her own grandmother by combining precious home movie fragments with the stories of seven elders dramatically affected by their experiences in residential school.
• New Horizons: A Conversation with Professor Murphy – Sep 29: What if what you know about lands and bodies is wrong? Join us to discuss learnings from Land/Body relations in Indigenous environmental justice with Professor M Murphy.
• 2023 Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth & Reconciliation – Sep 29: Honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a University-wide event to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Students, librarians, faculty members, and staff can register to attend this event in person or watch the live stream.
• U of T Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action: Did you know that the University of Toronto has specific Calls to Action in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada? The recommendations in the report, Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, address Indigenous spaces, faculty and staff, curriculum, research ethics and community relationships, students and co-curricular education, and leadership.
• Orange Shirt Tee: The U of T Bookstore, in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), has a limited supply of orange shirts available for purchase. All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will be directed to Indigenous community organizations. The design was created by MJ Singleton, an Ojibwe, two-spirit student from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation, who won the Orange Shirt Day 2023 Design Contest.
• Ganawishkadawe Centre for Wise Practices Hub: GCWP-IH at Women’s College Hospital takes an innovative approach to mobilize and implement recommendations specific to healthcare and education from multiple guiding documents and frameworks, which are available on this resource hub.