Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is observed each year on Sept. 30. Orange shirts were chosen as a sign of support based on the story of Phyllis Webstad, who was sent to the St. Joseph Mission Residential School outside of Williams Lake, BC in 1973 at the age of six. For her first day at school Phyllis proudly wore an orange shirt that her grandmother had managed to save enough money to buy for her, only to have the mission staff take it away and force her to wear a school uniform.

In recognizing September 30, 2021 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Diversity and Inclusion Network proudly present an online Virtual Honouring for residential school children who did not make it home, survivors, descendants and their communities.

The virtual event will include inspiring speakers such as Elder Lorna Standingready and Chief Cadmus Delorme; video clips from Cyclist, B’yauling Toni’s tours of Saskatchewan residential schools; and, traditional First Nation and Métis performances!

The Diversity and Inclusion Network is a community of practice network whose purpose is to share best practices, learn about various topics together and collaborate on initiatives. The Diversity and Inclusion Network organizes events such as the National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations on June 21st and Orange Shirt Day on September 30th in honour of residential school survivors.

Please note: This event is on September 29 and it will begin at 10:45AM, Saskatchewan time.

More Events:

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Event
Presented by the Regina Public Library

The Regina Public Library will host a lunch-hour event for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Elder Marjorie Lavallee will open the event with a song and blessing. There will be a drum group providing an honour song, a jingle dance performance along with the attendance of special guest and local author Bevann Fox. Bannock and tea will be served at the event.

Date: September 30, 2021
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: Central Library, Mezzanine

Event Agenda

• Elder Marjorie Lavallee will open with a song and blessing
• Drum group provide honor song
• Bevann Fox, author of Genocidal Love

Bevann Fox is a member of Pasqua First Nation, originally from Piapot First Nation. In 2012 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Culture and in 2018, her Master in Business Administration, Leadership from the University of Regina. In 2014 she was honoured with the YWCA Women of Distinction Award—Arts, Culture and Heritage. She received an Indigenous Voices Award for Genocidal Love, which was also honoured with two Saskatchewan Book Awards.

• Jingle dance performance
• Bannock and tea provided

Orange Shirt Day Virtual Presentation

Presented by the Royal Saskatchewan Museum

In celebration of Orange Shirt Day, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum is hosting a virtual presentation with Life Speaker and Residential School Survivor, Tim Poitras from Muscowpetung First Nation. Tim Poitras will speak about his residential school experience. Musician and youth mentor Brad Bellegarde Brad, aka InfoRed, will share his song “I Remember”, honouring his parents as residential school survivors.

Date: September 30, 2021
Time: 2 – 2:45 p.m.
Location: live stream

Stay tuned for the live streaming link. For more information about the event, visit the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s website.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Events
Presented by Wanuskewin Heritage Park
If you would like to participate in any of the upcoming Wanuskewin events, please view the event’s poster.

• Truth and Reconciliation Week 2021; virtual event open to all Canadian schools for Grades 5 – 12, September 27 – October 1
• National Truth and Reconciliation Day Live Streaming, September 30, 8:00pm ET on APTN, CBC, CBC GEM
• Office of the Treaty Commissioner Events Calendar
• Wicihitowin Indigenous Cultural Engagement Conference, Virtual, October 5 – 7
• Every Child Matters Commemoration Event, Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre, 9:00am – 2:00pm
• Every Child Matters Walk, Yorkton, September 30, 10:00am – 12:00pm

LEARN

• 150 Acts of Reconciliation – Crystal Fraser and Sara Komarnisky; A compilation of 150 everyday acts that average Canadians, as well as others, can undertake that will encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways.
• Beyond 94 – Interactive Website
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Education Resources
• Did You Live Near a Residential School?
• 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act – Bob Joseph

READ

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, 2015
• Truth and Reconciliation Reading List – ConnectR
• Read for Reconciliation – Regina Public Library
• Orange Shirt Day and Honouring Residential School Survivors Book List – Saskatoon Public Library
• Spirit Bear’s Guide to Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action
• Whose Land is it Anyway? A Manual for Decolonization
• OTC Recommended Reads on Reconciliation – CKUW 95.9FM Podcast

WATCH

• Phyllis Webstad’s Presentation on Orange Shirt Day
• What Non-Indigenous Canadians Need to Know
• Stolen Children: Residental School Survivors Speak Out, CBC News: The National
• 8th Fire: Wab Kinew’s Walk Through History, CBC
• What is Reconciliation? Indigenous Educators Have Their Say
• Namwayut: We Are One
• We Were Children, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Trailer
• Separating Children from Parents: The Sixties Scoop in Canada
• Orange Shirt Day Stories 2020