Winnipeg, MB: September 26, 2023 – To honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, the Manitoba Museum will provide complimentary admission to all three museum attractions from Saturday, September 30 to Monday, October 2.

Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum will offer visitors special, all-day programming focused on the history and the impacts of Indian Residential Schools, as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Calls to Action.

“Today and every day, every child matters. During this time of reflection, we invite Manitobans to consider that there are two distinct aspects to this important day: Truth and Reconciliation. The truth is painful and uncomfortable, it requires acknowledgement, an open heart, and an open mind. We listen, learn, reflect, and ultimately become aware of our shameful past.” says Dorota Blumczyńska, CEO, Manitoba Museum.

“Reconciliation, however, is most importantly expressed in action. As a community we must support Indigenous families in their pursuit of justice. We must ensure that the children who never came home from Indian Residential Schools are not forgotten, that those who survived are loved and cared for, and that all Indigenous peoples are honoured, in life and beyond. The Manitoba Museum is committed to the work of sharing truth, so that each of us can be a part of the journey towards reconciliation.” adds Blumczyńska.

Throughout the Museum, visitors will find many exhibits related to the history of Indian Residential Schools and other topics related to the TRC Calls to Action. Everyone will have the opportunity walk a path of learning, ending in a collaborative art installation and reflection wall which will allow them to share their thoughts on what they’ve learned and to commit to taking action, individually and as a community, towards reconciliation.

“We must have patience and empathy for survivors and their families,” says Tashina Houle-Schlup, Head of Indigenous Programming & Engagement. “Considering intergenerational trauma, it is vital to respect that healing takes time. Murray Sinclair said it best, ‘Reconciliation is a very simple concept, and it’s about being friends.’ Ask yourself how you would support your friends after they’ve been through trauma. We must consider how we can take action in our lives, workplaces, and schools toward contributing to truth and reconciliation. As a source of history and education, the Manitoba Museum strives to share the truth about the injustices that Indigenous people face and have faced, and is committed to providing the tools needed to help our visitors learn, reflect and heal.”

Orange Shirt Days will include other special programming such daily powwow performances by Beautiful Cloud Company, pop-up exhibits and videos from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, a pop-up art exhibit from Mackay Residential School Gathering Inc and more.

The exterior of the Museum will be flooded with orange lights from September 30 to October 2 with orange ribbons tied to its Rupert Avenue railings.

Thank you to our program partners: The National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, National Indigenous Residential School Museum, Parks Canada, the Mackay Residential School Gathering Inc., the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre, and all the community members who supported Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum.

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Media Contact:
Brandi Hayberg
Manager of Marketing & Communications
204-988-0614
bhayberg@manitobamusuem.ca