reflecting on orange shirt day 2022
10/01/2022 reflecting on orange shirt day 2022
Embedded Files
On Friday, September 30th, in the spirit of reconciliation and to stand in solidarity with survivors and all those impacted by residential schools, Canadians were encouraged to wear orange shirts to honour this day of significance. Wearing orange relates to the experience of Phyllis Jack Webstad. On her first day of residential school, she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt that was taken away from her. It has become a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Students and faculty were invited to wear orange or their favourite shirt to echo Phyllis’s experience of wearing her special new orange shirt and having it taken away.
To honour this day of significance and learn more about this part of Canada’s history, we also hosted an assembly on Friday, September 30th. As well, throughout last week, students were invited to participate in an interactive display in our Cafe entitled The 7 Teachings: A Pathway to Reconciliation, and contribute to an art installation inspired by Metis artist Christi Belcourt representing the legacy of residential school.
These initiatives were created by our Student Equity Committee and the Senior School Student Council.
Metis artist Christi Belcourt and pieces of her profound representation of the Indigenous experience in Canada through stained glass. Members of our community were honoured to create our own renditions of it.
Christi's stained glass window has found a permanent home in the halls of Canadian Parliament.
Entitled...Remembering the Past: A window to the Future
This is a children's book that Phyllis Webstad wrote to shared her experience with the world and educated younger members of society on the history of Canada's residential school system.
Grade 9 students will be very familiar with the novel "Indian Horse" written by Richard Wagamese by the end of this year, but for those of you who haven't had the chance to read it, this story, though fictional, gives a sadly accurate depiction of the residential school experience that thousands of children were forced to endure. There has also been a movie adaptation made in recent years that we recommend you watch (after reading the book).
Report abuse