September 30th marks the second anniversary of the official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is also known as Orange Shirt Day across the nation. This commemorative day is in response to the 80th call to action, from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for the establishment of a statutory day to “honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools.”
On September 30th, students and staff were encouraged to wear orange shirts in honour of the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Residential School survivor. Her story starts in 1973, on her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, BC where the special orange shirt she was wearing was stripped from her, never to be seen again. This was not uncommon among the children who attended residential school, as they were put into uniforms and had their hair cut. Their clothes were not the only things stolen from them though; through government policies of assimilation, their culture was taken away as well. In 2013, 40 years after her first day of residential school, Webstad spoke out publicly about her experience on that fateful day and thus began the Orange Shirt movement.
Orange Shirt Day has become a day of remembrance and a way to show support to survivors of residential schools, and families of those affected, and to acknowledge the negative impacts of residential schools. Since 2013, the impact of Orange Shirt Day has spread. Organizations design orange shirts and send proceeds to groups that support victims of residential schools. The day has become not only a day of remembering and supporting but a day about making a difference.
To honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at Sacred Heart, there was a spot for reflecting set up in the atrium that featured a display of orange shirts, a medicine wheel carpet, and chairs for students to sit in and reflect. A few of the 94 Calls to Action regarding education for students and staff to be mindful of on this day, and every day moving forward.
This year, Sacred Heart sold its very own orange shirts. Designed by Grade 10 student Madeleine Chapman, the shirts feature a beautiful drawing highlighted by the writing “Every Child Matters.” This phrase has become the motto for all movements for truth and reconciliation regarding residential schools. It has become more impactful after the discovery of many unmarked graves located at the sites of former residential schools. By saying “Every Child Matters” it means that no child should ever be “forgotten” or erased from history and all the lives of these children will always be remembered.
Students and teachers were able to purchase Sacred Heart’s Orange Shirts in the two weeks leading up to September 30th. The sales led by Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Rupert, and supporting students raised money for the Foundation of Hope Campaign.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) is an important day of remembrance for survivors of residential schools and their families as well as the legacy of residential schools. Sacred Heart continues to move forward in its efforts at reconciliation. Both the students and the teachers involved hope that this initiative will be something that Sacred Heart continues in the future, and will hopefully grow as the years progress.
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