Preparing for Orange Shirt Day

Every Child Matters rock

Educators can prepare for this important topic right from the beginning of the year!

While our learners may still be enjoying their summer vacation, many educators begin thinking about the beginning of the school year well before their holidays have ended. There are many things to consider as we welcome learners back to school. Something we should not overlook is September 30, or Orange Shirt Day and National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Are you wondering how you can discuss such a heavy topic with learners you are just getting to know at the beginning of the year? Keep reading for some ideas on how to successfully build classroom community to meaningfully observe Orange Shirt Day this fall. 

Remember what Orange Shirt Day is all about

Most people have some basic knowledge about Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day grew out of the St Joseph Mission residential school Commemoration Project and Reunion in May 2013. Phyllis Webstad told the story of her new shiny orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, being taken away at just six years old when attending residential school. This story inspired Orange Shirt Day and is still told to learners across Turtle Island each year. September 30 is a way for Canadians to discuss the effects of residential schools and their legacy, let survivors know they matter, and build bridges toward reconciliation.

If we think about these messages in our classrooms, there are some fundamental elements we can address at any time throughout the year. How can we show our learners they matter? Learn about them! Finding out what your learners enjoy and what makes them feel safe is a great way to start. Spend time getting to know your classroom community and the community at large. When you establish classroom expectations, co-create them with learners. These expectations should explain what values and behaviours represent respect and empathy. A positive classroom environment is crucial for learning and for entering into any discussion about the treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and reconciliation. 

Build community

Educators know how to create bonds with their learners; it is a cornerstone of good practice. While you may already have some strategies, you may also want to consider additional ways to bring Indigenous perspectives into your community-building efforts. Roger Simon (2005, p. 88, as cited in Wallace-Casey, 2022), a scholar who focuses on remembrance learning, asks, “What might it mean to live our lives as if the lives of others truly mattered?” As we build bonds with our new learners, we want to ensure we include activities that try to answer Roger Simon’s question. Taking the time to ensure our learners know what respect and empathy look like also means allowing them to practice these skills with one another and their community. 

Getting to know your local Indigenous community or communities is a great way to encourage learners to begin creating connections. Try finding out whose land you and your learners are occupying by visiting Native Land Digital. Your local Friendship Centre can help you make connections with Indigenous community members if you do not have existing relationships. These actions can be part of the “getting to know you” activities you do with learners.

Find the right resources

This may seem like the most daunting part of commemorating Orange Shirt Day – but it does not have to be! Many educators and organizations have taken the time to carefully and thoughtfully construct resources that support learning about Orange Shirt Day. Here are some tips about what to look for:

  • Resources that are age-appropriate for your learners. Different ages need different ways of accessing information about residential schools and survivors.
  • Resources that encourage historical thinking, specifically those that help learners develop historical perspectives and do research. We want learners to know how to investigate the past for themselves and when to use these skills in the future. The concept of historical thinking comes from Seixas and Morton’s work on developing a framework that enables learners to think like historians and begin constructing their own narratives about the past. By encouraging historical thinking, we are making space for Indigenous narratives about history and its connection to the present. 
  • Most importantly, find resources that make room for Indigenous worldviews and dialogic learning. 

Finding a single resource that does each of these things can be difficult! You may want to choose one and then emphasize elements that are missing by using another resource to supplement. To help you get started, here are a few recourse suggestions:

This free downloadable resource kit introduces learners to Orange Shirt Day and Phyllis Webstad’s story. Learners then engage in historical thinking and research to learn more about residential schools and survivors. The resource kit offers unique ways for learners to demonstrate their knowledge, such as word art, social media posts, and poems or songs to be shared with the community.

If your learners are familiar with the residential school system, then you may want to extend their learning using this kit. This free downloadable resource kit positions the story of Chanie Wenjack as told in Gord Downie’s Secret Path multimedia project as an opportunity to explore the topic of Indigenous languages and how they relate to Indigenous rights on a local/regional/national/global scale. 

Project of Heart is an inquiry-based, intergenerational and artistic journey that seeks the truth about the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Learners complete a series of activities, including decorating wood tiles and creating a display in the school, that teaches about residential schools and their long-lasting effects on Indigenous communities.

  • Orangeshirtday.org (K-7) 

This website contains a lot of information about Orange Shirt Day and is an excellent resource for educators. These resources include videos, books, and activities that are age appropriate and sensitive to both Indigenous Peoples and young learners. The activities encourage learners to use historical thinking skills and develop empathy.

How will you be commemorating Orange Shirt Day with your learners this fall? We’d love to hear from you, reach us here!

 

References

Wallace-Casey, C. (2022). Teaching and learning the legacy of residential schools for remembering and reconciliation in Canada. History Education Research Journal.

Every Child Matters: Orange Shirt Day

Every Child Matters

Every September 30, people across Canada wear orange shirts as part of Orange Shirt Day. This day honours residential school Survivors and provides an opportunity to remember the children who did not survive. It is also a great jumping-off point for schools to implement anti-bullying and anti-racism programs. It’s a day to remember that Every Child Matters.

Orange Shirt Day, created in 2013, was born out of Phyllis Webstad’s experience while attending the St. Joseph Mission school. Phyllis is a member of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation and the Canoe Creek Indian Band.

Phyllis’ Story

I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!

When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.

Intergenerational Effects

I was 13 years old and in grade 8 when my son Jeremy was born. Because my grandmother and mother both attended residential school for 10 years each, I never knew what a parent was supposed to be like. With the help of my aunt, Agness Jack, I was able to raise my son and have him know me as his mother.

I went to a treatment centre for healing when I was 27 and have been on this healing journey since then. I finally get it, that the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter. Even with all the work I’ve done!

I am honored to be able to tell my story so that others may benefit and understand, and maybe other survivors will feel comfortable enough to share their stories.

Source: http://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html

Every Child Matters

Orange Shirt Day was Phyllis’ way of conveying what she lost at residential school. She reclaimed the colour orange and talked about her experiences. This movement started in Williams Lake, BC and has gained ground ever since. People across Canadians have picked up Phyllis’ story and her message that Every Child Matters. They have begun to spread it themselves. In 2017, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, and the Minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott, released a statement urging Canadians to observe the day by wearing an orange shirt. They also suggest Canadians learn more about residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The Significance of September 30

The date for Orange Shirt Day is significant. September 30 was when government officials took the children out of their communities to attend residential schools. Modern-day school schedules mean learners are all in school to recognize this day with their classmates and educators. It provides educators and administrators with an opportunity to discuss bullying and racism with learners early in the year. Orange Shirt Day can help schools adopt anti-bullying and anti-racism campaigns and programs.   

This September 30, show solidarity with Indigenous Peoples by wearing an orange shirt. Ask your learners to do the same. Demonstrate your belief that Every Child Matters. Remember to broach the subjects of residential schooling, bullying, and racism in your classes. Consider involving learners in implementing action plans to make your school a safe and inviting place. You can visit the Orange Shirt Day website to get more ideas on planning an event in your school or community.

Learning More and Additional Resources

There are also three books available telling Phyllis’ story about her orange shirt for different age groups. You can purchase a book package with a lesson plan for your classroom. 49th shelf has a list of books you can use on or around Orange Shirt Day to supplement any lessons you may have planned around residential schools.

You can find lesson plans and resources to support your teaching around Orange Shirt Day and residential schooling through Indspire or The Manitoba Teacher’s Society.

Learning Bird search results for residential schools

Learning Bird also has many resources on residential schools. You can access our platform by searching for “residential school” using the keyword search at the top. These resources can help you discuss residential schools with your learners. They cover historical information, impacts, and healing efforts.