Orange Shirt Day, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, serve as a poignant reminder of Phyllis Jack Webstad’s story, an Indigenous student whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. This day commemorates the enduring legacy of the residential school system and its profound impact on Indigenous communities across Canada.
The Origins of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
First observed in 2013, Orange Shirt Day was established to raise awareness about the Canadian residential school system and its devastating effects on Indigenous peoples. In 2021, it was designated as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, becoming a statutory holiday recognized by the Parliament of Canada.
Beginning in 1883, the residential school system was created with the aim of assimilating Indigenous children by separating them from their languages, cultures, and religions. Funded by the Department of Indian Affairs and predominantly administered by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, this system sought to replace Indigenous traditions with Euro-Canadian norms and languages.
In the late 2000s, both political and religious leaders began issuing formal apologies for the harm inflicted by this system. Beyond its cultural and linguistic suppression, the residential school system was plagued by chronic underfunding and harsh conditions, resulting in the deaths of over 3,200 children. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation also acknowledges the unmarked graves of these children across approximately 53 residential schools in Canada.
The First Orange Shirt Day
Every year on September 30, Canada observes Orange Shirt Day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as the survivors and their families. This day is a time for the public to reflect on this painful history and commit to reconciliation and healing.
The orange shirt symbolizes the personal story of Phyllis Webstad, one of over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children forced to attend residential schools between the 1880s and 1996. At the age of six, Phyllis attended a church-run residential school in Williams Lake, British Columbia. Her grandmother had given her a new orange shirt for the occasion, but upon arrival, the authorities stripped her of her clothing and cut her hair. Phyllis never saw her orange shirt again.
Reflecting on her experience, Phyllis Webstad wrote, “The colour orange has always reminded me of how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared.”
Since its inception in 2013, Orange Shirt Day has become a day to wear orange and remember that every child matters. This grassroots, Indigenous-led commemoration raises awareness about this dark chapter in Canadian history and advocates for educational reforms.
Every Child Matters
This September 30, wear orange to honour those who were lost and those who survived. There is much more you can do to support this cause. For further information, visit the Orange Shirt Society’s official website at orangeshirtday.org.
By participating in Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we contribute to a collective journey of remembrance, understanding, and the commitment to ensure such injustices never happen again
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_for_Truth_and_Reconciliation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system
https://beyond.ubc.ca/orange-shirt-day/
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/every-child-matters-september-30-orange-shirt-day