Today, NT School Sports recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

For an organization built around schools and young people, September 30 carries particular meaning.

Orange Shirt Day grew from the experience of residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her when she arrived at residential school as a child. Her story has become part of a much larger message:

Every Child Matters.

Today, we remember the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families, and the generations who continue to experience the impacts of the residential school system.

In the Northwest Territories, this history is close to us. It is connected to our communities, our families, our schools, and the institutions in which many of us work and learn.

That gives those of us involved in school sport a responsibility.

Sport can be an important part of a student’s school experience. It can provide friendship, confidence, leadership, travel, connection, and a place to belong.

But belonging does not happen simply because we open the gym doors.

We need to continually ask whether every student feels welcome when they walk through them.

We need to listen to students and communities. We need to understand the history that shapes people’s experiences with schools and institutions. We need coaches, teachers, volunteers, officials, and leaders who create environments built on respect and relationships.

And we need to recognize that success in school sport is about much more than banners, medals, and results.

Sometimes success is a young person finding a team where they feel they belong.

Sometimes it is a student discovering confidence they did not know they had.

Sometimes it is a coach taking the time to listen.

Sometimes it is simply making sure that a young person knows they matter.

Today, we encourage our school sport community across the Northwest Territories to listen, learn, reflect, and have conversations about why September 30 matters.

And tomorrow, we continue.

Because Every Child Matters is not simply a message for one day.

It should be reflected in the environments we create for young people every day.