A word graphic. On a teal circle to the right is an orange t-shirt with the words “Every Child Matters” on the front accompanied by a floral motif. Text to the left of it reads, “Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum / Every Child Matters

Orange Shirt Days @ the Manitoba Museum

In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Manitoba Museum hosts Orange Shirt Days – three days of complimentary admission and special programming. Throughout these important days, we are joined by thousands of visitors of various backgrounds and ages, all joining with open minds and open hearts. Special programming highlights various permanent exhibits connected to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, extends our content on the history of Indian Residential Schools, and amplifies Indigenous voices as part of the ongoing community dialogue about Truth and Reconciliation. 

Orange Shirt Days typically fall on September 30 (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) with an additional 2 days before and/or after the 30th. You can find details on this page and on our social media in the weeks leading up to September. 

We take great pride in our partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in organizing Orange Shirt Days, and we sincerely appreciate their ongoing support. Additionally, we are grateful for the collaboration of our community partners, including but not limited to the Treaty Relations Commission, the National Indigenous Residential School Museum, Parks Canada, and the Mackay Residential School Gathering Inc.

A dancer in traditional Indigenous regalia demonstrating a powwow dance for a seated crowd.
Honour Every Story
Wednesday October 1, 2025

Orange Shirt Days at the Manitoba Museum: A Reflection of Gratitude

As Orange Shirt Days come to a close, the Manitoba Museum extends heartfelt gratitude to all who joined us in honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to learn, reflect, and remember…
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The Manitoba Museum “M” in a woodlands art style. The M is orange with orange flowers and green leaves sprouting off curling vines growing either side. Text along the top reads, "Media Release / Manitoba Museum "M" Reimagined for Orange Shirt Days".
Media Release
Thursday September 21, 2023

Manitoba Museum "M" Reimagined for Orange Shirt Days

We are honoured to share this beautiful interpretation of the Manitoba Museum’s iconic “M” by Sunshine Levasseur for Orange Shirt Days. Sunshine, a multimedia Anishinaabe Artist from,…
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Black graphic with text reading, "Truth and Reconciliation".
Wednesday May 29, 2024

Truth and Reconciliation at the Manitoba Museum

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Orange Shirt Days Photo Gallery

Three young people and an older adult wearing an orange shirt standing together looking into a case displaying a hide dress.

Students spending their class time at Orange Shirt Days (2025).

A group of people, most of whom are wearing orange shirts, standing and holding hands in a large circle.

Visitors participating in the friendship dance led by powwow dancers (2024).

A child wearing an orange shirt and a baseball cap places an orange sticky note onto a wall next to many more sticky notes.

Child contributing to the Reflection Wall (2024).

A woman wearing an orange t-shirt seated at a table with event materials assists a visitor.

Manitoba Museum’s Collections Technician, Cortney Pachet helping a visitor (2025).

From behind, three Indigenous dancers in full regalia standing together to the side as another person dances in the background.

Dancers, Preston Cleveland (Ho-chunk and Isanti Dakota), Shawna Olson (Anishinaabe), and Olivia Bawdwewekwe Olson (Anishinaabe) watch as their friend and mentor Jason Parenteau demonstrates his style of powwow dance (2025).

Three individuals from the side, standing side by side and looking up at something out of frame. All three wear orange shirts of sweaters.

Visitors at the 2024 Orange Shirt Days appreciate the beauty of a cradleboard in the HBC Gallery.

An individual from behind as they sit and watch a video projected on a large screen, showing an older woman outdoors speaking to camera.

Watching and listening intently to Phyllis Webstad’s mini documentary produced by the NCTR (2025).

A young child wearing an oversized orange shirt looks up at the adults with them and the specimens displayed in the ceiling of the Earth History Gallery.

Visitors of all ages join Orange Shirt Days in support and unity.

An adult and two children wearing orange shirts look at artifacts displayed in a case in the Welcome Gallery.

Family visiting Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator  exhibit during Orange Shirt Days (2024).

Two children sit on the floor in front of bison cut-outs of varying sizes displayed on the wall in front of them. The bison are each decorated with small visitor-placed tiles.

Youth reading the tiles displayed on the bison installations. These are part of an art activity called Project of Heart.

An individual stands over a table, writing something on an orange sticky note to put up with others on the wall in front of them.

Contributing to the Reflection Wall.

A child wearing an orange shirt sits at a table with an orange table cloth and writes something on a small wooden tile with a marker.

Youth creating a tile for the art activity, Project of Heart. 

A large number of orange sticky notes on a white wall in front of a table with writing utensils and blank notes.

Wall of reflections, Orange Shirt Days 2024.

An individual in Indigenous regalia walks through a seated crowd.

Dancer Jason Parenteau leading Q&A with visitors (2024).

From behind, seated, two adults and a child wearing traditional regalia facing an open area where a dancer performs in front of a seated crowd, many of whom wear orange shirts.

Matriarchs – Mary-Lou Ducharme with granddaughter Ariya and daughter Shawna Olson (left to right).

Two individuals wearing orange t-shirts seated at a table as they engage with a visitor in an orange shirt and white sweater.

Amazing language teachers and community trailblazers, Dawnis Kennedy and Sharissa Neault, share their knowledge at the Language Table (2024).

Two young adults wearing orange t-shirts sit at desks in the Schoolhouse exhibit, engaging with digital material embedded in the desk tops.

There is always more to learn (2023).

Four individuals seated in a circle, one of whom has a toddler on their knee, with a drum between them as they sing together.

Drum group singing for powwow dancers, Orange Shirt Days (2023).

A crowd seated in a semi-circle, most of whom are wearing orange shirts.

Supporting the powwow dancers during their demonstrations (2023).

An adult and a child seated at a round table, both wearing orange shirts, smiling for a photo as they decorate small wooden tiles.

Participating in the art activity, Project of Heart (2023).

Over the heads of a crowd looking towards a dancer in Indigenous regalia with other dancers watching from the side.

Preston Cleveland (Ho-chunk & Isanti Dakota) demonstrating his powwow dance style (2024).

Five dancers in regalia, four adults and one child, stand in a row smiling for a photo with a crowd of orange shirt-wearing individuals behind them.

Dancers and visitors pose for a photo at the 2024 Orange Shirt Days.