Orange memories!

Every year, Cindy and all the others who are fighting for the rights of Indigenous peoples celebrate Orange Shirt Day on 30 September.

Children in Kitigan Zibi remembered the children hurt in residential schools by forming a sacred circle around a memorial. Hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes that had previously been left outside Canada’s parliament were buried at the memorial site.

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day started after Phyllis Webstad, a survivor, spoke about when she was sent to residential school at the age of six. Phyllis was so proud of her new orange shirt, given to her by her grandmother to wear at school. But as soon as she arrived, they took the shirt away from her, and Phyllis never got it back.

“The colour 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,” says Phyllis.

On Orange Shirt Day, everyone helps heal the wounds from residential schools with dance, song and ceremonies. The message is that Every child matters.