September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day that honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities and promotes understanding of residential school history.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is Call to Action 80, a federal statutory day of commemoration, as set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in its final report which details 94 calls to action to further reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples.
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event, held in Williams Lake, BC, in the spring of 2013, that was inspired by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission. It took Webstad 40 years to find a way to reframe her experience and to combat racism and bullying under the slogan “All Children Matter” and the use of orange shirts. Since then, this day has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
Below is the video from Orange Shirt Society in which Phyllis Webstad shares her experience at Residential School and how Orange Shirt Day originated.
Wear Orange Shirt– There are several ways to learn, honour and reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Wearing an orange shirt on this day is the simplest yet most powerful step in honouring the children, families, and communities who survived the Indian Residential Schools and it is a way to pay tribute to those who were lost on the way.
Order your Orange shirt today from one of these official Orange Shirt suppliers: Official Orange Shirt Suppliers
Take a course on Indigenous history by the University of Alberta for free:
Indigenous Canada | Coursera
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