Photos and video of the event are available for download. 

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), in partnership with the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), marked Orange Shirt Day today in an event at the Empire State Plaza Concourse. The event, which included representatives from Native American nations, was designed to promote awareness of the Indian residential school system in the United States and Canada, which harmed so many Native and Indigenous children and families.

The event included a poster installation to raise awareness about the residential school system. The poster display – which contains information about the history of the residential schools, particularly the Thomas Indian School in New York State – will remain at the concourse through October 2.

Orange Shirt Day, known in Canada as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, was created in 2013 by survivors of a Canadian residential school. The name references a school survivor who recalled that, at only 6 years old and on her first day of school, her orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, was taken away without explanation – a tactic used to dehumanize Native identities and to prevent the children from preserving their connections to home.

The Indian residential school system forcibly separated Native American children from their families to be housed and conditioned at boarding schools across the country. The schools forbade the children to speak their Indigenous languages or practice their cultural traditions.

“As one of three agencies entrusted with the vital responsibility of serving New York State’s Native American populations, OCFS has a unique window into the beautiful traditions of Native American tribes. Governor Hochul has been very intentional by offering an official apology to the Seneca Nation, survivors of the Thomas Indian School, and descendants from all Indigenous nations affected by the institution, and OCFS shares her sentiments. We will never forget the history and will seize opportunities to raise awareness on the injustices that Native and Indigenous children have experienced,” said New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden. “Orange Shirt Day is a reminder that every child matters. At OCFS, we are mindful of keeping families together while recognizing the importance of Native traditions. In accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, if a Native American or Indigenous child in New York State must be placed out of their home, every effort is made to place the child with a relative, a member of their tribe, or, if necessary, a member of another tribe. In doing so, OCFS is committed to preserving family, community, and cultural ties that are vital to enhancing a child’s identity, stability, and well-being.”

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “OGS is proud to join OCFS in observing Orange Shirt Day at the Empire State Plaza Concourse as we raise awareness of the history and devastating impact of the Indian Residential School System on Indigenous communities. I encourage everyone to visit this OCFS exhibit, as we shine a light on the devastating legacy of abuse and the historical injustices this system had on thousands of children and their families who were forcibly subjected to it.”

The Thomas Indian School, on the Cattaraugus Reservation in Western New York, was established in 1855 by missionaries and then later taken over by New York State. Until its closure in 1957, the Thomas Indian School functioned as part of a broader federal and state policy of cultural erasure aimed at Native American communities. Generations of Native children – including children from the Seneca, Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Unkechaug, and Shinnecock nations – endured psychological trauma, neglect, and abuse within its walls. The legacy of the school has come under renewed scrutiny as part of national conversations about the long-term impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous peoples. Survivors and descendants have begun sharing their stories, contributing to a growing movement for acknowledgment, healing and justice.

On May 20, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul traveled to the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca Nation — marking the first time a sitting New York governor officially visited the nation’s lands — to issue a formal apology to the Seneca Nation, survivors of the Thomas Indian School, and descendants from all Indigenous nations affected by the institution.

Her visit honored a commitment she made earlier to Seneca Nation leadership and aimed to begin healing through truth, reconciliation, and accountability. “I recognize on behalf of the people of this State the atrocities that were committed there,” Governor Hochul said, but she added that New York State – which has the tenth largest Native American population in the United States – was committed to moving forward through education and healing.

For information about Native American services in New York State, visit the Native American Services page on the website for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

About the New York State Office of Children and Family Services: 

The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of children, families and communities. The agency provides a system of family support, juvenile justice, youth development, child care and child welfare services and is responsible for programs and services involving foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child protective services, preventive services for children and families, and protective programs for vulnerable adults. 

About the New York State Office of General Services:

Established in 1960, the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) provides essential services supporting state government operations. Today, OGS provides a broad spectrum of integrated services and innovative solutions to state agencies and local governments so that they can focus on their mission of serving fellow New Yorkers.  Since its inception, OGS has developed expertise in centralizing critical support and services functions, leading to a cost-effective government.