SD42 Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education
20905 Wicklund Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC
T. 604.466.6265

Orange Shirt Day Resources – English

Orange Shirt Day is just one of many opportunities we have throughout the year to increase our understanding of the legacy of Residential Schools and to engage in the process of Reconciliation.

Please remember before leading discussion in your classroom about this topic, it is imperative that you conduct your own research and gain an understanding of both the history and lasting impacts of Canada’s residential school system.

What is Orange Shirt Day? 

Orange Shirt Day is an annual event where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people come together in the spirit of hope and reconciliation to honour former residential school students, their families and communities. We consider the impacts of the policies and actions of the Government of Canada and the churches that operated the schools.

Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake, BC in 2013 at the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event at which survivor Phyllis Webstad told the story of her shiny new orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of school at the Mission.

Orange Shirt Day occurs in early Fall because this is the time of year when children were removed from their families and forced to attend residential schools. The day inspires Canadians to take part in anti-racism and anti-bullying initiatives at school and work.

The residential school era began in the early 1870’s, with the last school closing in 1996. More than 150,000 Indigenous, Métis and Inuit children attended these schools. There are an estimated 80,000 survivors living today. The intergeneration trauma created by these schools impacting thousands more.

Taken from: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/wellness/2019/09/13/orange-shirt-day-2/

(https://www.sd42.ca/district-highlight/orangeshirtday-at-sd42/)

What can you do in your school?

Appoint a team leader to organize a school wide event

Suggestions:

  • Orange shirt mural
  • What is Reconciliation? Word Wall
  • Promote wearing an orange shirt
  • Share a fact a day announcement to raise awareness
  • Decorate an orange hand with messages about why Every Child Matters and create a tree mural (from SD41 – Burnaby)

What can you do in your classroom?

  • Connect with one of the virtual events hosted online
  • Introduce a unit on Residential Schools
  • Bring in a book or video to share with the students (see the book list below)
  • Engage in conversations around Truth and Reconciliation
  • Art projects to raise awareness

Virtual Events:

  • September 16: Orange Shirt Day: Online Classroom
    • Explore the new book Orange Shirt Day with Phyllis Webstad, Joan Sorley and The Orange Shirt Society
  • September 30: Every Child Matters: Reconciliation through Education
    • Designed for students in Grades 5 through 12, this virtual event provides an opportunity to learn first hand from Residential School Survivors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, artists and leaders from nations and cultures across the country. Educators can select the events they wish to livestream for their students and download free educational resources.

Books:

Elementary:

Middle Grades/Young Adult:

Secondary/Adult:

Please have a look at our Residential School texts available through our Resource Library.

We also have Residential School Kits available based on the FNESC: Residential School Resource 

With thanks to Rose Pillay for this extensive list of resources: Orange Shirt Day

Online Resources:

Don’t forget to wear your Orange Shirts on September 30th!