Editor’s note: As a member of Discourse Community Publishing, The Wren uses quotation marks around the word “school” because the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found residential “schools” were “an education system in name only for much of its existence.”
This Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. An ever-learning experience for many, this day offers various opportunities for folks to learn more about the effects of colonialism and the residential “school” system.
Sept. 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led movement that began 10 years ago in Secwépemc Territory by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a residential “school” survivor who shared her personal story of staff taking her orange shirt from her.
The movement supports communities on a journey to reconciliation, raising awareness about the ongoing inter-generational impacts of residential “schools.”
The Wren has compiled a few ways to learn and engage with Indigenous culture ahead of and on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (Coyote Stories) Indigenous Film Festival
Organized by the Kamloops Film Society (KFS), the Indigenous film festival will be hosted from Friday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Paramount Theatre. The screening of seven feature films includes Sweet Summer Pow Wow, NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film, So Surreal: Behind The Masks, Seeds, Les Filles Du Roi, The Lost Tiger and Saints and Warriors.
This year’s event was planned close to Truth and Reconciliation Day to provide an additional learning experience for Kamloops.
“We didn’t want to have the festival on September 30 because we wanted to hold that day,” Colette Abbott, executive director of KFS explains. “But I think it’s really lovely to have it in the lead up to National Truth and Reconciliation day, because it gives the local community a space to learn, to engage, to participate.”
In addition to the screenings, there will be discussion panels dedicated to conversations like the repatriation of archives, Indigenous women in the film industry, and more.
This year will also feature an Indigenous artisan market in collaboration with the TNRD civic building and the Kamloops downtown library.
“This is our ongoing effort to support local Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses by giving them a place and a platform to be involved in community events,” festival committee member Shay Paul tells The Wren.
In addition, this year the festival will have a short film showcase, Indigenous Without Borders, featuring films from over different countries.
The screenings of the short films are free and will be hosted on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for the rest of the festival are available on the KFS website and vary in price. The festival will open with a performance by Duane Marchand and close with a concert by George Leach.
“People can expect a very diverse program this year, we tried to come up with a programming that would suit most audiences,” festival producer Ana Monteiro says. “The idea is also to include everyone from the community in this event.”
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Event
The main event for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Tkʼemlúps Arbour. Co-hosted at 10 a.m. between Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops.
This is an opportunity to honour the resilience of residential “school” survivors and to remember the children who never came home. Various talks and workshops will offer community members a chance to learn about Secwépemc cultures, colonial history and its intergenerational impacts as well as the healing path forward.
This event is open to the public and free to attend. There will be performances from Secwépemc folks who will sing and dance, as well as traditional food and more.
It will close with the Orange Shirt Day Walk throughout the grounds of Tk̓emlúps lands surrounding the school, offices and arbour.
Orange Shirt Day Motorcycle Run
The second-ever Orange Shirt Day motorcycle run will also take place this year on Sept. 30. The community-led bike ride is organized by Tk’emlups te Secwepemc member and motorcyclist Travis Marr.
As the son of a residential “school” survivor, Marr tells The Wren he was inspired to do something to commemorate survivors when evidence of unmarked graves was found on the former KIRS site in 2021. He invited other motorcyclists to go for a commemorative ride wearing orange and a few showed up.
This year, he has created a poster and event page, trialled the route a few times and recruited a friend to help spread the word. The Secwépemc Iron Horse Riders will lead the run.
The route will travel from the former KIRS site to the Splatsin reserve to Falkland, with breaks at local gas stations for snacks and drum songs along the way. Riders will finish at the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Powwow Arbour for the TRC event.
All rides and riders are welcome to meet at 9 a.m. at KIRS on Sept. 30, wearing orange. For more information, check out the Facebook event page or contact fullcdesign@hotmail.com or 778-220-8728.
Editor’s Note Sept. 24, 2025: This story was updated shortly after publication, on Sept. 23, to include up-to-date information regarding the motorcycle route and times from the organizer.
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