Each year on September 30th, Canadians come together to observe Orange Shirt Day, a powerful occasion dedicated to raising awareness about the tragic legacy of residential schools and honoring the experiences of Indigenous children. This day is not just a reminder of the past; it’s a call to action for healing and reconciliation.
A History of Resilience
Residential schools in Canada were in operation through the late 1900s, where they aimed to assimilate Indigenous schoolchildren into Canadian society. Often, these students were removed from their native lands and families and forced to speak English (losing their mother tongues along the way). Indigenous culture and identity were systematically lost to these schools. Today, the First Nations of Canada still struggle with this legacy of trauma and loss of culture.
Much of the information we now know about residential schools is from a 2015 report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. That committee formed a detailed document that highlighted the atrocities of these institutions.
Contextualizing Orange Shirt Day
The origins of Orange Shirt Day trace back to the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc woman from the Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation. At the age of six, her grandmother gifted her a bright orange shirt. Phyllis was excited to wear her brand-new shirt on her first day of school. However, when she arrived, her shirt was taken away by the administration. This led to the orange shirt coming to symbolize the loss of culture, identity, and self-worth that many Indigenous children faced in residential schools.
The first gatherings to commemorate Orange Shirt Day were held in May of 2013 in British Columbia (BC). The community of Williams Lake, BC invited local native tribes, including the people of the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh, and St’at’imc Nations to remember the legacy of St. Joseph Residential School. St. Joseph’s was a boarding school for First Nation peoples in BC. Combining moments of reconciliation and remembrance with joy and community, Chief Fred Robbins (of the Esketemc Nation) created the foundations of Orange Shirt Day’s spirit: remembrance and hope.
A Future of Reflection
Today, Orange Shirt Day is a moment of reflection on the past and making progress towards a future where Indigenous peoples are celebrated. Across the country, people adorn orange clothes and take time to learn about the history of Indigenous cultures and their struggles in residential schools. It also gives us a space to recognize the often untold histories of Indigenous life throughout history.
While the nation reflects, it is also called upon to act. The impacts of residential schools still reverberate through the country today, but there are also other inequities in the Indigenous community. Orange Shirt Day provides the space for activists to fight for even more advancements and to promote unity among the Canadian people.
As we commemorate these legacies, Orange Shirt Day is a reminder that not all people have been equal throughout history. It allows us to reflect on the past and commit to a new future, where Indigenous communities and cultures are celebrated and uplifted.
Written by Kaleb Houle-Lawrence
University Intern
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