Orange Shirt Day was founded in 2013 by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) woman from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band) to bring awareness to the harm and impact of the residential school system on thousands of Indigenous children. September 30 was chosen for Orange Shirt Day because it marks the time of year when Indigenous children were often taken from their homes and sent to residential schools. At six years old, Phyllis arrived at St. Joseph Mission Residential School, proudly wearing a brand-new orange shirt. On her first day, she was stripped of her clothes, including the shirt, which she never saw again. The orange shirt has become a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom, and dignity Indigenous children endured across generations.

Phyllis continues to share her story raising the awareness of the trauma inflicted by the residential school system. You can read Phyllis’ story in her own words here.

Following the uncovering of the remains of 215 children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021 and the discovery of thousands of other children at residential schools across Canada, the Canadian federal government declared September 30 the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Province of BC subsequently chose to observe this as a day of recognition in the public sector and began working Indigenous Peoples on how to honour this day moving forward.

Resources:

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation:

• ‘Lunch and Learn’ webinars from September 23-27 to UN-learn the myths of colonial history in Canada. These sessions will have simultaneous English-French, and ASL interpretation. Find out more and register here.
• In honour of the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Algonquin Nation have united to produce a 90-minute multilingual commemorative gathering, entitled Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Find out more and watch here.

Government of Canada

• Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action

BCCIE Internationalization and Indigenization: Tension and Collaboration Dialogues

• Dialogues on Decolonization for International Education: Part One
• Dialogues on Decolonization for International Education: Part Two
• Dialogues on Decolonization for International Education: Part Three

BCCIE Intercultural Dialogue Series

• Internationalization and Indigenization: Tensions and Collaborations