Peninsula College invites community members to take part in gathering led by Integrated Indigenous Studies Professor Migizi Miigwan/Nicole Nesberg, in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

The event is starts at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, at Robins Green on Peninsula College’s campus, 1602 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

“This day carries the weight of history and the pain of countless families, as we come together to remember the Indigenous children who were taken from their homes and forced into boarding and residential schools,” college officials note. “

The simple act of wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the stories of children who lost their innocence, families torn apart, and communities fractured by this system. It’s a day to honor their memories, to reflect on the physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse endured, and to recognize the lasting impact of this trauma on survivors and their descendants.”

Miigwan will share the story of her own grandmother’s experience at an American Indian Boarding School, shining a light on the history that shaped not only her family but many Indigenous families across North America.

“This is a moment to bear witness, to feel the weight of truth, and to join in the healing journey that is still ongoing,” college representatives noted.

This event is open to the public and the first 50 attendees will receive an orange shirt as a symbol of solidarity and remembrance.

For more information, contact Miigwan at nnesberg@pencol.edu.

This event is co-sponsored by the First Nations Club and ʔaʔkʷustəŋáw̕txʷ House of Learning, Peninsula College Longhouse.