Renata Birkenbuel
ICT
Memorials abound on the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada and in parts of the United States on Monday, Sept. 30. The federal holiday in Canada became official in 2021.
Even the Canadian Football League is honoring the children who passed away in boarding schools as a way to never forget the horrors done to Native peoples during colonialism.
Also known as Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a somber, vital time for relatives and friends who want to keep children in their hearts.
“It is a statutory holiday in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Yukon,” according to ICT’s Canada reporter, Miles Morrissey, Metis Nation. “In those provinces and territories you will get the day off or earn holiday pay. All First Nations administrations and organizations will be closed including schools.”Preparing for a positive residential school experience, Webstad’s grandmother gifted her with a beautiful orange shirt. But after she arrived at St. Joseph’s, all of her belongings – including her new, memorable orange shirt – were taken away.
Residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, started Orange Shirt Day in 2013. She chose the color orange because it reminded her of the fateful day when, at the tender age of six, she was taken away from her family to the St. Joseph’s Mission School.
Preparing for a positive residential school experience, Webstad’s grandmother gifted her with a beautiful orange shirt. But after she arrived at St. Joseph’s, all of her belongings – including her new, memorable orange shirt – were taken away.
She never saw her shirt again.
So the orange shirt, now a symbol of solidarity among residential school survivors, represents the often soul-crushing, lonely, dangerous experiences that Native children experienced.
The orange shirt became a symbol of teaching and healing, as well.
The purpose of the day, according to The Indigenous Foundation, is to “raise awareness of the horrific experiences many Indigenous people had in Residential Schools, as well as the legacy of this system. It is a moment to recognize not only historic harms but also the intergenerational impacts and ongoing violence Indigenous communities continue to face.”
Leading up to Monday’s official day that Canada deems a federal holiday is the Remembering the Children Memorial Walk on Sunday, Sept. 29 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The event features the names of children who passed away while attending the Rapid City Boarding School, which existed from 1893 to 1933.
The walk starts at Sioux Park, 1000 Sheridan Lake Road in Rapid City, and ends at the Remembering the Children Memorial site, near the Canyon Lake United Methodist Church, located at 3500 Canyon Lake Road.
In Mesa, Arizona, an Orange Shirt Day Open Mic event runs from 6-to-8 p.m. at the Mesa Community College Navajo Room, 1833 W. Southern Ave. Poet Taté Walker hosts.
“Immerse yourself in an evening of poetry, music and art that reflects the resilience and history of boarding school survivors, victims and descendents,” reads the Orange Shirt Day Open Mic poster. Artists may sign up at 6 p.m. before the 6:30 p.m. show. All poets, lyricists and musical artists are welcome.
Among the special “Open Mic” events are Renae Blackwater, Shayna Blackwater, the Hopi Dance Group and Miss Native MCC Royalty.
The University of Wisconsin at Madison hosts an Orange Shirt Day at the Indigenous Student Center, 215 Brooks St.
“We encourage you to wear Orange to show support in the honor and remembrance of the Indigenous and First Nations children who were sent away to boarding schools,” according to the Indigenous Student Center. “MHS and ISC will be making a Tribute Tree and ‘Every Child Matters’ Origami Shirts in observance of Orange Shirt Day, how it may be affecting you, and contribute to our community projects.”
The First Nations Development Institute Facebook page directs readers to The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition’s comprehensive list of ways to participate on Orange Shirt Day.
A wealth of information, the coalition’s website includes the history, legislative details, curriculum for educators and tips on hosting an event.
In Canada, All federal government offices, banks and post offices are closed on Monday.
“In Honor of Truth and Reconciliation Day, I am happy to partner with Aboriginal Head Start Edmonton and donate a percentage of my sales from the St. Albert Market on Monday at Mission Park from 12-4 p.m.,” posted Courtney Blackwater, Facebook administrator of A Mother’s Touch Apothecary page. “Proceeds will go towards their little Graduations.
“The Aboriginal Headstart program aims to strengthen and prepare Aboriginal children ages 3 – 5 with the necessary school-readiness skills and cultural foundation to enter mainstream schools on an equal basis with all other children in a positive, fun, stimulating, and respectful learning environment … giving our future generations a Head Start,” she added.
Mission Park in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada is located at 29 Mission Ave., northwest of Edmonton.
“Join us to honour the survivors of and the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as their families and communities,” reads the poster invitation for the Edmonton area event, which includes an honour walk, guest speakers and performers, Native food vendors and exhibits.
Native children who were taken to the Rapid City Boarding School hailed from the Great Sioux Nation, primarily Pine Ridge, Cheyenne River and Rosebud, according to the Remembering the Children website. Children also came from Gros Ventre, Northern Cheyenne, Flathead and Chippewa communities.
“A significant percentage of the Rapid City Native American community are descendants of the children who survived after being brought to the Rapid City Indian Boarding School,” reads the history.
At least 50 children and infants died, according to oral histories and years of independent research. But the numbers are probably much higher since the government-run facility did not keep records of the deaths.
The Canadian Football League created Indigenous-themed logos to show support for truth and reconciliation. Each of the nine clubs collaborated with Indigenous artists to design the special logos.
“The logos were created by local Indigenous artists to honour the game’s close ties with Indigenous communities across the country, and to underscore the league’s commitment to recognizing the past, while focusing on a path forward centred on awareness, education and action,” according to a CFL press release.
The logos will be featured on players’ helmets, in-stadium programming, plus on CTV, TSN, RDS, CFL+ and CBS Sports Network. A portion of proceeds from all associated merchandise sold will be donated to support local Indigenous groups, organizations or programming.
The Calgary Stampeders, scheduled for a bye week, featured their commemorative logo in Week 15 when hosting Montreal.
Elegant, artist descriptions of each special logo are listed here.
Webstad continues her crusade of remembrance, as the Orange Shirt Society tells her biography and story as a residential school survivor and community leader.
Reads the Remembering the Children, Wakȟáŋyeža Wičhákiksuyapi website detailing the history of the Rapid City Boarding School:
“The government took our children – to force them to forget who they were. This memorial is for them – so they know we never forgot who they are. This memorial is for us – so we never forget what they did.”
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