Orange Shirt Day

*2023 T‑shirt Design by Charliss Santos, a Grade 10 student from St. Augustine School in Ponoka, Alberta.

September 30, 2023 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A day to honour the Residential School survivors, their families and communities and to recognize the many forms of harm the residential school system has inflicted on Indigenous Children and their families.

Orange Shirt Day began on September 30, 2013 when Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation first publicly shared her residential school experience. Phyllis’ Granny bought her a brand new shiny orange shirt for Phyllis to wear on her first day of school. Six year old Phyllis was very excited to go to school and to wear her new shirt. On her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, BC, Phyllis’s shiny new orange shirt was taken from her and never seen again.

A total of 130 schools operated between 1831 and 1996. Over 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend residential school during this period. Thousands died either at school, or because of their experiences in the system. Many more remain missing.

Listen to Phyllis’ Story:

Every Child Matters

On this September 30th, we ask you to join us to listen to the stories of survivors and their families and to remember those that didn’t make it.

Here are some ways you can show your support leading up to and on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day:

Wear an orange shirt as a sign of support — Purchase a shirt from the Orange Shirt Society
Educate yourself on the history of Indigenous Peoples and Canada’s Residential Schools. One place to start is the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Sign up for their free Truth and Reconciliation Public Lunch and Learns available all week (Sept 25 — Sept 29th). If you missed a session, recordings are available.
Attend the Reconciliation Through Community event by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society on Friday, Sept 29th 1–4pm.
Bring the family to All My Relations: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Artist and curator (and frequent Children’s Festival artist), Christine Mackenzie shares her unique art perspective around the importance of the cedar bough through a drawing and painting activity for families. Sept 30th, Place des Arts, Coquitlam 1–2pm.
Join the Intergenerational March at UBC Vancouver Campus on Sept. 30^th.
Talk to your child about Residential Schools. There are some great resources to help start the conversation like this book list with age appropriate reading options, or this Molly of Denali episode about the topic told with simplicity and sensitivity for children ages 4–8.

There is a Canada wide FNMI crisis line for those who need support 1–855-242‑3310 and In BC there is the KUU-U5 crisis line: Adults 230 ‑723‑4050, Youth 250–723-2040 or 1–800-588‑8717