In 1973, 6-year-old Phyllis Webstad lived on the Dog Creek reserve and was sent to "The Mission," a residential school. As she prepared to leave home, her grandmother managed to buy her a new outfit for her first day, and Phyllis chose a bright and beautiful orange shirt. However, when she arrived at the residential school, her clothes were taken from her, and she never saw the orange shirt again.
Since then, the colour orange has always reminded her of the things that were taken away from her and of how she felt she was worth nothing and that her feelings did not matter. It was not until she was 27 years old that she went to a treatment centre for healing, and she has been healing ever since. Orange Shirt Day began in 2013, inspired by Phyllis's story.
On September 30, 2021, Canada observed its first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This was an important step toward reconciliation and awareness, honouring the Survivors of the residential school system in Canada and remembering the children who did not make it home. For generations, Canada avoided confronting this history, but because of Orange Shirt Day, Canadians stood in solidarity as they learned about the horrors of this school system.
On this day, Oak Learners takes part in this movement by wearing orange to raise awareness and stress the importance of truth and reconciliation to all students. We strive for inclusivity and equity for all learners. “Every Child Matters”.
Our principal at Oak Learners, Kelly Farrell, shared these thoughts on the importance of the day at our school: "We recognized the importance of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by initiating conversations and answering the questions our students had about the day. Our students experienced a Land Acknowledgement and spent time down by the lake, acknowledging the traditional lands of the First Nations Peoples. At the school, we listened to Anishinaabe music and learned about the importance of drumming while creating our own drum circles. Our students also made tributes to the children who suffered, survived, and died in residential schools by making orange t-shirts and painting rocks to add to a memorial garden in front of the school. We teach them that the phrase 'Every Child Matters' goes beyond the children we can see and hear every day; it also includes the children who don't have voices to speak for themselves. By learning about the past, we are making this new generation stronger and well prepared to do better in the future."
As we continue to educate ourselves on this subject, we encourage everyone else to do the same. Please visit www.nctr.ca to learn more and help spread awareness wherever you can.
If this post brings up difficult feelings, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-925-4419.
