Students and staff in many SRPSD schools honoured Indigenous residential school survivors, and those who did not survive, by participating in a variety of Orange Shirt Day activities during the past week. In the spirit of reconciliation and hope students learned the history of Canadian residential schools through simulations, inquiry assignments, cultural teachings, and stories shared from residential school survivors. Orange Shirt Day began in BC in 2013 when residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad shared her story with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about having her new orange shirt stolen from her on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential School. Since then wearing an orange shirt on September 30th has become a way of acknowledging the cultural genocide thousands of Indigenous children and families suffered due to the residential school system. Wearing Orange Shirts on this specific day is also a way of standing together in the spirit of reconciliation because “Every Child Matters”. SRPSD is committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the learning won’t only happen this week, but will continue throughout the school year. For more information on Orange Shirt Day visit www.orangeshirtday.com.
