On Sunday, September 29 wear an orange shirt to church to honour residential school survivors and the children who did not survive Canada’s painful residential school system.
Some of you may remember that Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray came to St. Marys’ last Lenten Lecture Series to speak to us about the legacy of residential schools and how it continues to affect all who live here on this land in community to this very day. We are mindful that we as people of this land, both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous seek better ways to live together in Reconcilliation and respect.
About Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations.
For more information visit orangeshirtday.org