Truth and Reconciliation In Action

ORANGE SHIRT DAY: every child matters

When? Friday, September 30th

What? This Friday, people all throughout Canada will wear an orange shirt (link is external)to honour the memory of the hundreds of thousands of First Nations children who were taken from their families and communities and forced by law to attend the Canadian Indian Residential School system (link is external)(ending in 1996). The shirt honours the memories, strength and resilience of the ones who were lost, the ones who survived, and their families.

Why? Wearing the shirt represents a commitment to learning about what has happened to Indigenous people historically, and what is happening contemporarily (link is external). Committing to the statement, “every child matters” requires looking critically at the contemporary treatment of Indigenous peoples in this country, and thinking about ways to effect change personally, in your family, in your office and greater community.

If you would like to learn more about where this day comes from, you can read about Phyllis’s Story (link is external), also please consider taking the time to read some of the additional materials provided through the hyperlinks.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation
Junior Community Arts Development
& Partnerships Officer|BC Arts Council