Today, September 30, 2026, we remember the thousands of children taken to residential institutions over a period of 150 years. We remember their parents and the people of their communities that were left behind.

This year’s United Church of Canada worship resource prepared by The Rev. Tony Snow for Orange Shirt Day includes liturgical responses to signal our commitment to taken action to support healing and reconciliation:

Oath to Become a Witness to ReconciliACTION

We stand as Witnesses to ReconciliACTION

With humility and resolve, we pledge:

1. To Learn
We will seek understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, and perspectives.
We will educate ourselves on the truths of colonization and its ongoing impacts.

2. To Listen
We will center and amplify Indigenous voices, stories, and teachings.
We will approach these with respect and an open heart.

3. To Act
We will respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Calls for Justice.
We will advocate for systemic change and work toward decolonization.
We will support Indigenous-led initiatives.

4. To Acknowledge and Reflect
We will recognize our roles in these processes—past, present, and future.
We will strive to be good ancestors, leaving a legacy of justice and equity.

5. To Stay Accountable
We will welcome discomfort as part of growth and accountability.
We will hold ourselves and others to the principles of ReconciliACTION.
We make this commitment as witnesses to Truth, supporters of ReconciliACTION, and guardians of future generations.

So it is, and so We will strive.

On October 4, 2026, the annual Sisters in Spirit vigils will take place across the country to remember Indigenous women, girls, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are missing or known to have been murdered.  As the Native Women's Association of Canada observes, Sisters in Spirit “has grown into a nationwide movement that refuses to let silence or inaction prevail. Each vigil adds to a chorus of voices demanding truth, justice, and safety for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.”