Events to commemorate Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2024
Two events taking place at UBC campus to highlight are the All-Day Sacred Fire Ceremony at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm – UBC Farm, and the Intergenerational March, which begins at Main Mall. More details are below – all are welcome to come and commemorate Orange Shirt Day and support Indigenous communities both on campus and beyond.
All-Day Sacred Fire Ceremony at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm – UBC Farm
When: The fire starts at sunrise, 7:12am, and ends at 4:00pm.
Where: xʷci̓ cə̓ səm at UBC Farm – 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver
The all-day Sacred Fire Ceremony commemorates the spirits of the lost children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities. It is also an opportunity for everyone to acknowledge and commit to reconciliation and to ensure that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools are never forgotten.
You can participate by making fire offerings, singing, drumming, sending prayers, sharing experiences, and reflecting on your support for Truth and Reconciliation and advocacy. This free outdoor event is open to everyone. We ask that no photography or recording occurs as this is a sacred space.
We acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded Territory of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. These lands have been a place of learning about xʷməθkwəy̓əm culture, history, traditions, and knowledge for thousands of years.
We recognize that these annual Sacred Fire Ceremonies are not practiced within xʷməθkʷəy̓əm culture in this way, and we are grateful for their consent to offer them each year.
We also acknowledge the unceded, traditional, and ancestral Territories of Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), SəlíL lwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples where other UBC Campuses are located.
Hosted by the Centre for Indigenous Land-Based Education, Research and Wellness at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm; First Nations House of Learning; Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre; and the Indigenous Land-Based Health, Wellness, and Education Research Cluster.
If you have any questions, please contact: xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Staff, indigenousgardenlfs.irp@ubc.ca.
Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day
When: 11:45am – 3:00pm PT
Where: Start location is at 1956 Main Mall, travelling down to Thunderbird Commons Field
Join us for an Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD). The Faculties of Applied Science, Land and Food Systems and Forestry are honoured to host this event. This is one way the Faculties demonstrate their commitment to the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan. Members of the UBC community, families and those in solidarity are welcome to participate. The March is intergenerational, and aims to be educational and supportive to the Indigenous community on campus and beyond. Educational activities will allow younger participants to connect with the original inhabitants of the land and plant a seed to continue these conversations about a difficult era in Canadian history at home.
All-Day Offerings
We encourage you to stop by the open area outside the UBC Bookstore to purchase food, educational materials, and t-shirts. Food trucks, a bannock maker, and the UBC Bookstore trailer will be on site from 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society training dogs and handlers will join attendees at the 1956 Main Mall, amphitheatre near the Ladner Clock Tower to provide support during the march.
Bathrooms will be open along the marching route.
Tagged with: 2024, Event, Indigenous