Beyond the Orange Shirt: Reconciliation or Performative Allyship?

Tomorrow, Canada observes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools and the Survivors, their families and communities. 

For many, it’s a day to pause, reflect and learn — but it can also be a time when well-intentioned people and organizations risk slipping into performative allyship — those symbolic gestures that look good on the surface but don’t create real change. Our organization has fallen into this trap before. It wasn’t easy to recognize, but through honest reflection and accountability, we’ve worked to move beyond symbolism and practice reconciliation in our daily work — and I’d like to share some of the lessons and tips we’ve learned along the way.

This post is for anyone who wants their actions to mean more than a social media post or a one-time donation. It’s also for leaders and teams planning activities around September 30 who want to ensure their efforts reflect genuine commitment, not just good intentions.

What Reconciliation Requires

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released 94 Calls to Action that outline clear steps across education, health, justice, language, culture, and more — they’re an accountability roadmap, not a suggestion list. The TRC’s work and ongoing archives are primary sources for what reconciliation actually requires. If your actions don’t connect back to these calls or to Indigenous-led priorities, they may be symbolic rather than substantive.

What is Performative Allyship?

Researchers define performative allyship as visible, low-cost actions that signal support but are primarily motivated by the ally’s social benefits (visibility, praise, branding) rather than the needs of those harmed. These acts often don’t challenge the status quo or the systems that reinforce harm. 

It shows up when:

• Symbolic gestures like wearing orange shirts or issuing statements stand alone without follow-through to advance the Calls to Action

• Indigenous speakers are invited for awareness events with no follow-up, relationship building, or connection to local communities

• Symbolic donations are made while meaningful change remains blocked by inadequate funding or unchanged policies

These gestures may be well-intentioned — but they often centre the ally, not the community.

Not every visible action is symbolic or meaningless. Wearing orange, attending a memorial, or sharing Survivor stories can be important entry points — if they lead to deeper, long-term commitments. Think of visible acts as doorways, not destinations. Use them to amplify Indigenous-led resources and organizations, to direct people to education, and to build ongoing relationships.

Interrogate Your Actions

Ask yourself (or your organization) these quick questions to help uncover whether your actions are symbolic or meaningful:

• Is this action one-off (an orange shirt post, a momentary ceremony) or ongoing (policy changes, funding, relationship building)?

• Are Indigenous people leading or being consulted in planning and decision-making — or are they only being asked to “speak” at an event?

• Does this action challenge existing policy or practice (hiring, procurement, community investments), or is it purely visibility-focused?

• Is there a plan and budget for long-term commitments?

If you’re answering “no” to any of the questions, you may be drifting into performative gestures.

Moving from Symbolic to Meaningful Actions

For Leaders and HR Teams:

• Co-create: Involve Indigenous partners in designing programs and pay them fairly

• Embed: Tie reconciliation goals to policy, hiring, procurement, and funding

• Report: Publicly track and share progress, including where you fall short

• Sustain: Spread learning throughout the year, not just around September 30 

For individuals:

• Learn: Read TRC reports and Indigenous-authored histories

• Listen: Follow and amplify Indigenous voices

• Act: Commit to one concrete step this year (e.g. join a local learning circle, support a language revitalization project, etc.)

If you’re still unsure whether your actions are meaningful, commit to this simple rule:

“I will pair every visible gesture with one concrete, resourced action that advances Indigenous-led priorities.”

Resources To Learn More and Take Action

To truly honour Indigenous cultures, it’s important to continue learning and weaving Indigenous perspectives into everyday work and life. Below are some authoritative resources to help you learn more and design meaningful actions:

• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation — Includes the reports, Survivor testimonies, TRC Calls to Action, and specific steps for individuals, institutions and governments.

• Business Reconciliation in Canada — Practical guidebook for organizations seeking long-term, respectful partnerships and accountability.

• How to Be an Ally: A Toolkit for Aspiring Indigenous Allies (the Legacy of Hope Foundation) —  A national Indigenous-led foundation educating about the history and intergenerational impacts of residential schools.

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, let’s remember that reflection is only the beginning. Real change happens when we turn awareness into action.

Let’s make the unconscious conscious by pausing to reflect —  and by choosing each day to honour truth, accountability, and Indigenous leadership.