The National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools in the United States is September 30. It originated in Canada as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in 2021. Canada has done work in healing its Indigenous people and the trauma inflicted by residential schools by designating a day to honor the survivors, their families, and communities.
As an Indigenous person, I am a descendant of four residential school survivors, my grandparents. I grew up listening to the stories of how the nuns treated the children at the mission school and how they forced them to cut their hair, learn English, and worship Jesus. In any other context, children worshiping Jesus would be a good thing, but when people are indoctrinated into a belief by force, there can be some resentment.
I am grateful every day that I received, learned, and was shown the love of God in the way it was intended so that I can help my people heal with God’s good love. I am grateful to be a leader in a church, the ELCA, which is leading the way in reconciliation with Indigenous people.
This message is excerpted from “Wearing orange in remembrance of Indian boarding schools” by Wanda Frenchman from the September 21, 2024, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Michael and all angels.
Copyright © 2025 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected]. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.