A recent poll conducted by Ipsos exclusively for Global News revealed that a majority of Canadians feel that both governments and individuals should do more to recognize the legacy of residential schools in Canada. The polling found that 75% of Canadians believe that governments need to take more action on the legacy of residential schools, missing children, families impacted by these schools, and survivors. Additionally, 70% of Canadians believe that individuals should also do more to recognize the legacy of residential schools, with 64% saying that employers need to take action. Despite the desire for more action, only 22% of Canadians expressed interest in learning more about Indigenous history in Canada, and just 11% indicated that they would attend events in person.
While there is a lack of personal engagement with Indigenous history and events, 23% of Canadians stated that they would wear an orange shirt to honor the survivors of residential schools and remember those who died. The wearing of orange shirts is a tradition on September 30th, known as “Orange Shirt Day,” which was established in memory of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor whose clothing was taken away when she arrived. The federal Liberals chose this day as a statutory holiday for federally regulated workers in 2020, a decision that 58% of Canadians view as important. Several provinces and territories have since adopted this day as a holiday for all workers, while others, such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador, do not mark the day as a statutory holiday.
Despite not all jurisdictions recognizing Orange Shirt Day as a statutory holiday, 70% of Canadians believe that it should be, with 68% urging all employers to do the same. The poll also revealed that 59% of Canadians believe that there will be meaningful reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in their lifetime. The poll highlights the significance and importance of acknowledging the legacy of residential schools in Canada, where more than 150,000 children were forced to attend these institutions. Many survivors have shared stories of abuse they experienced at the hands of those meant to protect them, with an estimated 6,000 children dying in the schools.
Overall, the poll conducted by Ipsos sheds light on the attitudes of Canadians towards the legacy of residential schools and the actions needed to recognize and address this dark chapter in Canadian history. While there is a call for more action from both governments and individuals, there is also a need for increased education and awareness of Indigenous history and events among the general population. The poll indicates that there is a desire for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada, but more work needs to be done to achieve meaningful and lasting reconciliation.
