It is a day to honour the resilience, dignity and strength of survivors and intergenerational survivors and remember the children who never came home. It is an opportunity to engage in learning about Canada’s colonial history and how it has and continues to impact Indigenous communities.
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad from Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. At the age of 6, Phyllis was taken from her family to attend St. Joseph’s Mission “School.” For her first day in school, Phyllis wore a beautiful orange shirt bought by her grandmother. However, when she got to the residential “school,” all her belongings, including her new orange shirt, were taken away and never returned.
The Orange Shirt has become a symbol of solidarity with residential school survivors because of how the colour orange reminded Phyllis of the experiences she and other Indigenous children had.
In DSB1, we are committed to actions to better serve students, families, and communities who identify as First Nation, Métis, and Inuit and recognize the importance of listening and learning in advancing reconciliation.