Orange Shirt Day
Sporting vibrant orange, a united statement against discrimination, and fostering inclusivity in our shared human journey.
Officially known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day commemorates and pays honor to the indigenous children of Canada who were taken from their families and sent to residential schools in the 19th century.
History of Orange Shirt Day
For more than 150 years, from the 1830s to the 1990s, these church-run residential schools were funded by the Canadian government. Children of indigenous families, namely Metis, Inuit and First Nations, were removed from their families and forced to speak English or French in lieu of their native languages. They were removed from their traditions and cultures, being forced to adopt Canadian customs and Christianity to assimilate into society.
Founded in 2013, this day is colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day related to the story of one woman who attended a residential school when she was a child. When she was sent for her first day of school, Phyllis Webstad was given a new orange shirt by her grandmother. But when she arrived at school, her clothes were exchanged for a uniform and she never saw her orange shirt from her grandmother again.
In light of this, the color orange has been a reminder for Phyllis about the experiences at residential school, where she and the other children felt overlooked, minimized and valueless. Orange Shirt Day was established by Phyllis and a group of others with the purpose of stating that every child matters while raising awareness about the negative impact of residential schools, as well as fighting against racism and bullying.
In 2008, the Canadian government offered an apology to the indigenous people of the country, acknowledging that this approach of splitting up families and separating children from their culture was wrong, cruel and ineffective.
Orange Shirt Day is celebrated on September 30 because this was typically the day of the year when the indigenous children would be taken or sent off to the residential schools.
How to Observe Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day can be observed and celebrated in a variety of ways that allows people to acknowledge the harm done to children for more than a century, while celebrating the freedoms and empowerment that have been gained in recent years. Consider some of these ideas for celebrating the day:
Wear an Orange Shirt
One of the best ways to show support on Orange Shirt Day is to wear an orange shirt as a symbol of hope and reconciliation. Also, be sure to share with friends, family and coworkers about the reason for the orange shirt – and perhaps even post a photo of the orange shirt on social media. Visit the Orange Shirt Society webpage to learn more.
Fight Against Racism
Removing children from their life and culture is just one of the many ways that racial injustice is alive and rampant in the world today. Orange Shirt Day is the perfect opportunity to stand up against these issues, whether in large or small ways. Get started with some of these small steps toward ending racism:
- Learn about and accept personal privilege and examine personal biases.
- Consider the experiences of other people from their perspective, and validate these experiences – don’t minimize them.
- Call out statements or “jokes” that are racist.
- Share resources – whether through financial donations, volunteering or other efforts.
