Sunday, Sept. 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize the damage done by residential schools and an opportunity for those affected to share their stories.
Everyone is encouraged to wear their orange shirts in support of Canada’s reconciliation with its Indigenous peoples.
The day will be commemorated on Friday, Sept. 28, in Barriere’s elementary and secondary schools as well as at the Neqweyqwelsten School.
“Neqweyqwelsten students, teachers, parents and any other individuals wanting to participate will depart the school at 10:45 to walk up the mountain to the outdoor classroom,” Chief Shelly Loring said in an email.
“There will be smudging, prayers, singing and words shared on the significance of Orange Shirt Day and how the residential school system impacted our people historically and current day.”
Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story.
Webstad speaks openly of the painful memory of being stripped of her orange shirt on her first day at the St. Joseph Mission residential school near Williams Lake.
Her grandmother bought that shirt specially for her first day of school and she says the colour orange came to signify, for her, the memory of nobody caring how she felt and being treated as if she was worthless.
Paul Hembling, principal of Barriere Secondary School, said their teachers are doing independent activities within their classrooms to honour the day.
He said the school integrates Indigenous education into its curriculum on a daily basis.
“This is something that we talk about, it’s something that we look at the history of,” and incorporate the culture wherever possible, he said.
“One of the things I’m most proud of in the school is our solid connection to theSimpcw First Nation.”
The first Orange Shirt Day was held in Williams Lake in 2013, close to where the St. Joseph Mission residential school stood until it was torn down in the 80s.
For more information about the event, go to its official website orangeshirtday.org.
