Orange Shirt Day
September 30th is a very important date as it represents Orange Shirt Day. This is a day to honour and show respect for the Indigenous children that were taken away from their families, and forced into residential “schools”. A tool used by colonizers in an attempt to assimilate Indigenous children by removing them from their families and their culture. The date September 30th was chosen for this day due to the fact that it falls in the time period in which Indigenous children were seized from their homes.
This day is not only to recognize the Indigenous children taken, it is to honour those who survived, as well the families and communities affected. It is an opportunity for those to examine the long-lasting impacts of this cultural genocide committed against Indigenous peoples. Although Orange Shirt Day is a wonderful way to promote awareness, it is important to honour Indigenous peoples and communities all the time. It is also essential to learn about the history of the residential school system and understand what deep-rooted consequences remain.
Orange Shirt Day came out of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC. This occurred in May 2013 when this day was born. The idea for a day to recognize and honour residential school survivors as well as commit to the reconciliation process was that of Chief Fred Robbins, who was a survivor himself. It brought together many Indigenous peoples, communities and continued year after year, opening the door to meaningful conversations and systematic change.
The day is known as Orange Shirt Day because of one woman, one incredible Indigenous woman who was the leader of the Reunion group at the event, Phyllis Wedstad. Phyllis was removed from her home as a young girl and forced into one of these so-called schools. When she was taken from her home she was wearing a new orange shirt that was gifted to her by her grandmother. When Phyllis entered the building she was stripped and her belongings were taken from her, including her orange shirt. Once it was removed, it was not seen by her again. This is why the day was titled Orange Shirt Day because the colour orange reminded her of the experiences she and other children went through.
Drawing from Phyllis’s experience in the residential school system, the orange shirt being taken from her represents the Indigenous identities that were stripped from the children in these buildings. The colour orange is sending the message that every child matters. Not only on September 30th but every day. Indigenous children’s lives matter and should be protected in all spaces. This is why Orange Shirt Day also exists to raise awareness about the racism and bullying perpetrated against Indigenous children and put an end to it. This is another reason why September 30th was chosen as the official date of Orange Shirt Day, to remind people at the beginning of the school year that every child matters.
As of this year 2021, the day September 30th is known as a statutory holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The goal of this is to honour Indigenous peoples and communities affected by the residential school system, encourage those to educate themselves and do what they can to participate in the process of reconciliation.
Sources:
https://www.orangeshirtday.org/
