Sept. 30 is the day kids and adults across Canada are encouraged to wear orange, as a way to honour Indigenous residential school survivors. It also serves as a reminder that every child in Canada matters — including Indigenous kids, who have a history of being mistreated.

In 2021, Orange Shirt Day is taking on a new and important role in reconciliation, which is the process of healing the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Going forward it will be known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

CBC Kids News asked a group of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to share their thoughts on Sept. 30 and why it’s meaningful to them.

Watch the video to hear from these Indigenous change-makers:

- Mya Beaudry, the founder and CEO of Kokom Scrunchies.
- Cindy Blackstock, a child welfare activist with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
- Alicia Cardinal, a teacher, TikToker and fancy shawl dancer.
- Blake Desjarlais, a two-spirit member of Parliament for the NDP.
- Shawnee Kish, an award-winning singer-songwriter.
- Haley Paetkau, a kid who designs orange shirts for charities.

CBC Kids News is a website for kids, covering the information you want to know. Real Kids. Real News. Check it out at CBCKidsNews.ca.

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