Orange Shirt Day
wear orange On September 30
The Justice Institute of BC is committed to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action. Observing September 30th as the Orange Shirt Day, our Institution takes part in a national movement to increase public awareness of the history and harms of Indian Residential Schools in Canada (1830’s-1996) with its systemic mandate “To take the Indian out of the child”.
Orange Shirt Day is for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to acknowledge Truths related to the Residential School system, the impact of resulting and persisting individual, family and community inter-generational trauma and to respectfully honour the Indigenous children sent to Residential Schools by coming together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope, affirming “Every Child Matters”.
Do you have your official Orange Shirt yet? Order yours today and learn ways to promote Orange Shirt Day.
PHYLLIS’S STORY
Formally Orange Shirt Day was launched in 2013, but its origins are traced to 1973 when Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a six-year old, child from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, attended St. Joseph Mission Residential School, on the outskirts of Williams Lake, BC, for the first time. Learn about Phyllis’s story in her words here.
Orange Shirt Day with Stephen Lytton
Stephen Lytton, Nlaka’pamux First Nation and Board President, British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society. Under his leadership, BCANDS promotes Aboriginal participation in community planning and provincial-wide disability, health and social support service delivery. Stephen is a recipient of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, a long-time DTES resident, an accomplished actor, writer, community activist and is a residential school survivor.
We respectfully acknowledge JIBC's New Westminster campus is located on the unceded Traditional Territories of the Qayqayt, Musqueam and Coast Salish Peoples.