Thursday, September 30 is Orange Shirt Day. It is the 8th annual day in recognition of the damage done by the residential school system.
Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation elder in Williams Lake, B.C. She wore a bright orange shirt to her first day of residential school in 1973 when she was six years old. The shirt was taken from her and since then, the colour orange has reminded her that her feelings did not matter.
Orange Shirt Day was started in Williams Lake in 2013 to commemorate all Residential School Survivors. The orange shirts are a symbol of solidarity. Wearing orange recognizes the many losses experienced by students, their families and communities, over several generations, including loss of family and culture, language, freedom, parenting, selfâesteem and worth, and painful experiences of abuse and neglect.
September 30th falls during the time of year when Indigenous children were taken away to residential schools. This day acknowledges that residential schools are a part of our history. Wearing an orange shirt is a national movement to recognize the experience of those who went to Indian residential schools, to honour them, and show a collective commitment to ensure that Every Child Matters.
The initiative calls for every Canadian to wear an orange shirt on September 30th in the spirit of healing and reconciliation.
More information can be found at www.orangeshirtday.org. It is important to acknowledge that Orange Shirt Day is a difficult reminder for Residential School Survivors and healing is a lifelong journey. Wear an orange shirt in honor of those who attended and for healing. It is the hope of those who attended residential schools that no other child would ever have to live that experience again.
Honouring Residential School survivors and those who did not survive. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for the St. Clair College community to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
We are in the era of Truth and Reconciliation. Awareness will lead to understanding, healing and reconciliation for those who have open hearts and minds.