The Manitoba Museum has opened its doors this week with free programming for Orange Shirt Days, inviting visitors to learn about the legacy of the residential school system and to engage with Indigenous culture. The special programming runs from Wednesday through the end of the week and includes a self-guided educational trail, audio-visual elements and a language-learning nook.
Accessible learning and reflection
Museum staff say the initiative is designed to make education about the residential school system, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, and Indigenous languages more accessible to the public. Tashina Houle-Gaywish, the museum’s head of Indigenous programming and engagement, described the events as a balance of solemn remembrance and hopeful celebration.
"It’s both bittersweet and heartwarming to see visitors come out and want to learn and engage and try to do better for our society as a whole in being empathetic and respectful of people," said Houle-Gaywish.
Houle-Gaywish said providing several days of free admission for people of all ages and backgrounds helps remove barriers to participation and encourages ongoing learning beyond a single visit.
What visitors can expect
The museum’s Orange Shirt Days offerings are centred on a self-guided trail that leads people through exhibitions dealing with residential schools and the TRC’s Calls to Action. The trail incorporates audio-visual components, including films about the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation narrated by Phyllis Webstad and the Honourable Murray Sinclair.
One of the interactive features highlighted by staff is the Language Learning Reading Nook, located in the museum’s smudge room. That space includes resources for learning Indigenous languages and is intended as a quiet spot where families can sit and read together.
- Free admission for all visitors during Orange Shirt Days
- Self-guided trail focusing on residential schools and TRC Calls to Action
- Audio-visual presentations featuring voices from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Language Learning Reading Nook in the smudge room with resources for families
Program goals and community response
The museum aims to blend education with opportunities for cultural celebration. Houle-Gaywish said she hopes the program will spark curiosity and motivate visitors to continue learning about Indigenous histories and contemporary Indigenous life.
"It’s an opportunity for folks to learn as much as they can about Indian residential schools, about the TRC, and further their learning all in one visit," she said, noting the trail is intended to deepen rather than conclude visitors' understanding.
Staff emphasise that the environment is intended to be both informative and respectful. The combination of sombre material about the harms of residential schools and celebratory elements of Indigenous culture reflects the broader approach to Orange Shirt Days: remembering the past while supporting survival and resilience.
Planning a visit
Visitors planning to attend should note the following practical details, provided by the museum:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free during Orange Shirt Days |
| Programming | Self-guided trail, films, Language Learning Reading Nook |
| Audience | All ages and backgrounds |
While the museum is offering materials and spaces for language learning, staff encourage visitors to treat the site with cultural sensitivity. The smudge room and its resources are intended as a respectful learning environment.
Broader context
Orange Shirt Days and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are part of ongoing efforts across Canada to acknowledge the harms done by Indian residential schools and to promote reconciliation. Local institutions such as the Manitoba Museum play a role in making historical information and contemporary Indigenous voices available to the public in accessible formats.
Houle-Gaywish said the museum’s work is guided by a desire to foster empathy and to support the community in doing better for future generations. She encouraged visitors to approach the exhibitions with openness and to use the resources provided as a starting point for continued learning.
The Manitoba Museum’s free Orange Shirt Days programming offers an opportunity for Winnipeg residents and visitors to reflect, to learn, and to celebrate Indigenous cultures in a public, accessible setting.
