The Toronto Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation proudly announce that National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, known to many as Orange Shirt Day, will be recognized throughout tonight’s game at Rogers Centre.
Land Acknowledgement Installation
The Blue Jays acknowledge that Rogers Centre is located on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. A land acknowledgement and artwork by Philip Cote, an artist and Ancestral Knowledge Keeper from Moose Deer Point First Nation, has been installed at Rogers Centre outside at Gate 15 and inside at Section 102 (images available here).
Pregame Ceremonies
The Blue Jays are honoured to be joined by Chief R. Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Chief Laforme will accompany Marjorie (Cachagee) Lee, a proud band member of Chapleau Cree First Nation, a Jays Care mentor, and survivor of nine years at Shingwauk Indian Residential School, who will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
In recognition of the more than 70 Indigenous languages spoken across Turtle Island, Mary Nahwegahbow, an aspiring First Nations artist from Whitefish River First Nation, will perform the Canadian anthem in Anishinaabemowin, English, and French.
In-game
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the club and foundation reflect on those whose lives were lost and those who survived residential schools, as well as the families and communities impacted. Staff will be wearing orange shirt pins to acknowledge that “Every Child Matters,” and there will be orange accents with artwork by Patrick Hunter, a two-spirited Ojibway artist from Red Lake, ON, featured throughout the stadium.
Jays Care
Jays Care and the Blue Jays are honoured to work with, learn from, and partner with more than 100 Indigenous communities, co-designing and implementing programming for more than 5,000 Indigenous children and youth. This year, more than $1.5 million was committed to programming in Indigenous communities, including Indigenous Rookie League, a multi-generational baseball league that promotes healing through inter-generational connections and community collaboration.
Blue Jays fans across Ontario can support Jays Care programs in Indigenous communities by joining this homestand’s special 50/50 draw, with tickets on sale at bluejays.com/5050 until Sunday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. ET. All proceeds from the draw will support programs in Indigenous communities.
Interviews are available upon request by contacting media@bluejays.com.