Orange Shirt Day was created as an opportunity to discuss the effects of residential schools and their legacy. It honours the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, celebrates resilience and affirms a commitment that every child matters. Learn how to participate in Orange Shirt Day on September 30.
Why do they wear orange shirts on Canada day?
The use of an orange shirt as a symbol was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing—including a new orange shirt—was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling, and never returned.
What do you do on Orange Shirt Day?
September 30th is Orange Shirt Day
- Wear an orange shirt or something orange (if you’re buying a shirt, make sure the proceeds support Indigenous groups)
- Take time to learn more about Canada’s Indian Residential Schools (there are books and resources below)
- Talk to children about residential schools.
Is Orange Shirt Day just in Canada?
Every year on September 30, people across Canada wear orange and participate in Orange Shirt Day events to recognize and raise awareness about the history and legacies of the residential school system in Canada. Orange Shirt Day originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation.
What do orange shirts symbolize?
The orange shirts are a symbol of solidarity. Wearing orange recognizes the many losses experienced by students, their families and communities, over several generations, including loss of family and culture, language, freedom, parenting, self‐esteem and worth, and painful experiences of abuse and neglect.
What does orange symbolize in Canada?
The intergenerational impact is still felt through communities. Orange Shirt Day was created as an opportunity to discuss the effects of residential schools and their legacy. It honours the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, celebrates resilience and affirms a commitment that every child matters.
What can you not do on Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is a day to think about the many students who were taken from their families to be colonized. Students placed in Residential Schools were not allowed to speak their native languages, practice their spiritual beliefs, wear their own cultural outfits, or even wear their hair as their ancestors did.
What is the story behind orange shirt day?
The Orange Shirt Day movement was started by Phyllis Webstad, a member of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation and former residential school student, to honour Survivors and intergenerational Survivors, and to remember those children who never made it home.
Who should wear an orange shirt?
This movement honors the more than 150,000 First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children who attended residential schools. Part of this movement is Orange Shirt Day, an annual day that recognizes this part of Canadian history and seeks to honor Indigenous people by wearing orange shirts.
Do Americans celebrate Orange Shirt Day?
HOW TO OBSERVE ORANGE SHIRT DAY. Wear an orange shirt to show your support for those in the Native American community. Support those who did not escape the enduring impact of the trauma. Communities across the United States and Canada commemorate Orange Shirt Day by hosting memorials, candlelight vigils, and walks.
What happened in the residential schools in Canada?
The system forcibly separated children from their families for extended periods of time and forbade them to acknowledge their Indigenous heritage and culture or to speak their own languages. Children were severely punished if these, among other, strict rules were broken.
Does the US have an Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day, also called National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or National Day of Remembrance, is observed yearly on September 30 in Canada and the United States.
How do you explain orange shirt day to kids?
It’s a day to honour children that survived residential school, and to remember the lives that were lost. Wearing orange is a symbol of respect and mourning. This year, September 30 also marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
What is the reason for wearing orange?
we wear orange for a future free from gun violence
Together, we call for meaningful action to save lives.
When did residential schools end?
The last Indian residential school closed in 1996. Children between the ages of 4-16 attended Indian residential school. It is estimated that over 150,000 Indian, Inuit, and Métis children attended Indian residential school.
What are 3 symbols that represent Canada?
Over the past century, the following symbols have been formally adopted by the Government of Canada and are now considered official symbols of our country.
- The beaver.
- The Coat of Arms.
- The Maple Leaf Tartan.
- The maple tree.
- The national anthem.
- The national flag.
- The national horse.
- The national sports.
What do colors mean in Canada?
The First Design of the Canadian Flag
The red and white colors of the flag represent Canada. White color represents snow, while the red color is the color of the maple leaf seen all over the country.
Who created Orange Shirt Day and why?
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself.
Can I wear my orange shirt any day?
We also encourage you to wear your orange shirt any day of the year to show your support for decolonizing spaces, educating others, and recognizing Indigenous rights.
What does orange represent in Indigenous culture?
The purpose of wearing orange is to show a unified step towards reconciliation and building stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
What kind of holiday is Orange Shirt Day?
“While this is a day to commemorate the tragic history of residential schools and honour those who did not make it home, as well as their survivors and families, I would encourage all to reflect and be reminded that reconciliation is not just one day of the year,” New Brunswick Aboriginal Affairs Minister Arlene Dunn