A land acknowledgement recognizes the Indigenous Peoples who have longstanding relationships with the land where we live, work, and gather. It can be an important way to recognize history, relationships, and responsibilities—but it is only one part of reconciliation. 

Today, learn about the Municipality of Jasper’s updated land acknowledgement and consider why we use land acknowledgements, when they are appropriate, and how we can move beyond words into meaningful action. 

The story behind Orange Shirt Day comes from residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad. When Phyllis was six years old, the new orange shirt her grandmother bought for her was taken away when she arrived at the residential school. 

Her story helped inspire the Orange Shirt Society and the annual Every Child Matters movement. Today, Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity to remember the children who attended residential schools, honour Survivors, and learn about the ongoing impacts of the residential school system. 

Are you in need of an orange shirt for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation? Please consider supporting an Indigenous-owned business when purchasing your orange shirt.  

Orange shirts are also available for purchase at Jasper Mettra Pharmacy. 

The below video is aimed towards explaining Orange Shirt Day for young children:

Also, do you have an orange shirt to wear on September 30th ? Consider supporting an Indigenous business! We’ve linked some below.

Indigenous business links:

• T-Shirts - Turtle Lodge Trading Post
• T-Shirts - Orange Shirt Society 2026 Design
• T-Shirts, Hoodies, Pins - Generations Collection - Orange Shirt Day 2026 

Orange Shirt Society partners include:  

• Aritzia  
• Old Navy  
• Giant Tiger  
• Walmart  
• Winners  
• Joe Fresh 
  

Introduce a child in your life to an Indigenous-focused children’s show such as Spirit Rangers (full episode below) or Molly of Denali.

 Languages carry culture, history, identity, and ways of understanding the world. Today, learn a simple greeting in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe. 

Aaniin is commonly used as a greeting meaning “hello” or “hi.” 

Residential schools were part of a system created to remove Indigenous children from their families, communities, cultures, and languages. The impacts of this system continue to affect Survivors, families, and communities today. 

Today, take some time to learn about the history of residential schools in Canada and listen to the experiences of Survivors. 

Indigenous Peoples have longstanding connections to the lands and waters now known as Jasper National Park. For generations, people have travelled through, gathered, lived, and maintained cultural and family connections to these lands. The creation of the national park disrupted these relationships and led to Indigenous Peoples being removed from their lands and facing restrictions on traditional activities, including harvesting and accessing important cultural places. 

Treaties are agreements between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown that continue to shape relationships today. They are not simply documents from the past—they continue to carry rights, responsibilities, and relationships. 

Jasper is located within Treaty 6 and Treaty 8. Today, learn more about treaties and consider what it means to live in Treaty territory. 

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is an international declaration that describes the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Canada has committed to implementing UNDRIP. Today, learn about the declaration and why Indigenous rights, self-determination, culture, language, and relationships with land are important to reconciliation. 

Today, learn about the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation through Resilient: The Aseniwuche Winewak Story. 

The film shares the history, experiences, strength, and resilience of the Aseniwuche Winewak people and their ongoing connection to their traditional lands.

Today, learn a greeting in Stoney Nakoda, a language spoken by Stoney Nakoda peoples. 

Learning even a few words from an Indigenous language can be an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the languages that have been spoken on these lands for generations. 

Personal stories can help us understand the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in ways that facts and statistics cannot. 

Today, listen to personal stories from Indigenous people who experienced the residential school system. As you listen, remember that these are real experiences of loss, harm, resilience, and survival. 

Triggering warning: Some of these stories discuss residential schools and experiences of trauma and abuse. 

 Métis Peoples have distinct histories, cultures, communities, traditions, and identities. Today, learn more about Métis history and the traditional territories of the Métis. 

 Take some time to explore Métis culture and learn about the contributions and experiences of Métis Peoples in Canada. 

• History of the Métis People and Their Traditional Territory | Métis Crossing 
• Who are the Métis? 
• Mountain Métis 

The late and honourable Senator Murray Sinclair is an inspiration, who helped create and implement the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action. 

 Watch this 2:55 minute video of Senator Murray Sinclair discussing reconciliation.

The impacts of residential schools did not end when the schools closed. The experiences of Survivors, including loss of family, culture, language, community, and safety, can affect individuals, families, and communities across generations. 

Today, learn more about intergenerational trauma and the importance of healing, resilience, culture, community, and connection. 

Learn a greeting in Cree, an Indigenous language spoken in the Jasper area.

Cree: Tansi (THAN-SAY) means ‘how are things’ in Cree.

The Indian Act is a Canadian law that has shaped the lives of First Nations people for generations. 

It gave the federal government significant control over many aspects of First Nations life.  

The Indian Act continues to affect First Nations communities today. 

Learn a greeting in Michif, an Indigenous language spoken in the Jasper area.

Metis: Tansi (THAN-SAY) means ‘how are things’ in Michif.

Want to keep learning? The University of Alberta offers Indigenous Canada, a free online course that explores Indigenous histories, contemporary perspectives, and relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. 

The course includes 12 lessons and can be completed online at your own pace. 

Indigenous beadwork is more than an art form. For many Indigenous people, beadwork can be connected to identity, culture, family, community, storytelling, and cultural reclamation. 

Today, learn more about the connections between Indigenous beadwork and well-being, culture, and reclaiming cultural practices. 

Learning about residential schools can be difficult, but understanding this history is an important part of truth and reconciliation. 

Today, explore a timeline of the residential school system in Canada. Learn when the schools operated, how the system changed over time, and how its impacts continue today. 

Fact: The last federally operated residential school closed in 1996. 

Looking for a way to learn while exploring Jasper? 

Take a walk to the Jasper Indigenous Exhibit, located near the Jasper Information Centre. The exhibit shares Indigenous Partner histories, cultures, relationships with the land, and experiences connected to Jasper National Park. 

Music and song can carry history, culture, teachings, and meaning. 

Today, listen to the Secwépemc Honour Song and take some time to learn about the meaning and context of the song. 

Indian Horse is a film based on the novel by Indigenous author Richard Wagamese. It follows Saul Indian Horse, an Ojibwe boy who is taken from his family and sent to a residential school. 

The film explores residential schools, racism, identity, trauma, resilience, and the impacts of colonialism. 

Trigger warning: This film contains depictions of residential schools, colonial violence, child abuse, family separation, and addiction. Please take care of yourself while watching and feel free to step away or take a break at any time if needed.  

The history of Jasper National Park includes the forced removal and relocation of Indigenous Peoples from their traditional lands. 

Today, learn about the Simpcw Nation and the relocation of Simpcw people from Jasper National Park to Tête Jaune Cache and later to Chu Chua. 

Learning this history helps us better understand the lasting impacts of the creation and management of national parks on Indigenous Peoples. 

Looking for a new podcast? Listen to CBC’s Unreserved podcast with Rosanna Deerchild or the Matriarch Movement podcast with Shayla Oulette Stonechild.   

Go for a walk in what is now known as Jasper National Park. Look at the land around you and reflect on what you have learned in the past 28 days. 

What role do you play in advancing truth and reconciliation?

Set an intention on how you will observe September 30th and honour the survivors of the residential school system. 

How will you continue to learn and acknowledge the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada throughout the year?