Events on Orange Shirt Day, September 30, 2025
Sacred Fire Ceremony
The Centre for Indigenous Land-Based Education, Research and Wellness at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm; The First Nations House of Learning; and the Indigenous Land-Based Health, Wellness, and Education Research Cluster invite you to a Sacred Fire Ceremony.
Where: Xʷc̓ic̓əsəm (#3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver, BC)
When: September 30, 2025 from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm PST.
Everyone is welcome to commemorate the spirits of the children who never returned home, the survivors of Residential Schools, their families, and their communities on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided!
Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day
Join us for an Intergenerational March to commemorate Orange Shirt Day (OSD). The Faculties of 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.
Date: September 30, 2025 | 11:45 AM – 3:00 PM PST
Location: Various locations around UBC Vancouver Campus, meeting and starting at 1956 Main Mall
All Day Offerings
We encourage you to stop by the open area outside the UBC Bookstore to purchase educational materials and t-shirts. The UBC Bookstore trailer will be on site from 10:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Food is available for purchase at the AMS Nest, or any of the restaurants along University Boulevard.
T-shirt proceeds are donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. If you would like to donate directly, please visit the IRSSS website.
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.
Agenda
| Time | Event | Location |
| 11:45 a.m. | Participants gather at outdoor ‘amphitheatre’ below the clock tower | 1956 Main Mall |
| 12:00 – 12:05 p.m. | Event starts and students introduce speakers and performers | 1956 Main Mall |
| 12:05 – 12:20 p.m. | Opening by a Musqueam Elder | 1956 Main Mall |
| 12:20 – 12:50 p.m. | Drum group perform | 1956 Main Mall |
| 12:50 – 1:15 p.m. | Speech by a survivor of St. Paul’s Residential School, Sam George of the Squamish Nation | 1956 Main Mall |
| 1:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Aileen Michel (L’il Bear) and Mitchell Tourangeau perform | 1956 Main Mall |
| 1:30 – 1:35 p.m. | MC outlines the route, identifies volunteers, and explains the march map and QR code. Volunteers distribute cards for messages of action towards reconciliation. PADS dogs and UBC counsellors are there for support. | 1956 Main Mall |
| 1:35 – 1:50 p.m. | March begins with placards and informational signage along the way | From 1956 Main Mall down Main Mall, towards Thunderbird Commons Field |
| 1:50 – 2:00 p.m. | All participants can add written messages of action and support at tables, handprints to the Engineering cairn on Main Mall | Main Mall, Engineering cairn outside of the Kaiser building |
| 2:00 – 2:20 p.m. | Jeremy Jones, an activist and son of Alberni Residential School survivor John Jones, speaks | Thunderbird Commons Field |
| 2:20 – 2:30 p.m. | Closing words from Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, member of the Hwlitsum First Nation and Senior Manager of EDI.I for the Faculty of Forestry and Land and Food Systems | Thunderbird Commons Field |
| 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. | Volunteers available to collect messages of support, solidarity and action towards reconciliation, messages and handprints also can be added to Engineering cairn | Thunderbird Commons Field |
| 3:00 p.m. | Intergenerational March concludes | n/a |
| 4:00 p.m. | Women of the Fur Trade Written by Frances Končan | Directed by Renae Morrisseau A sharp, witty satire that re-imagines fur-trade history through the bold voices of three women. More details & tickets: touchstonetheatre.com | Frederic Wood Theatre |
More Information
- The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre provides OSD resources and events throughout September.
- Take Weaving Relations, a self-directed Canvas course which provides Indigenous awareness training. Available to UBC students, staff, and faculty.
- Check out media from years past to learn more about the Intergenerational March to commemorate OSD.
Tagged with: 2025, Equity Diversity Inclusion and Indigeneity, Event, Indigenous