Honour children who attended Residential Schools – Orange Shirt Day September 30th

Honour children who attended Residential Schools

On September 30, people all across Canada will wear orange shirts to remember and honour Indigenous children who attended Residential Schools. Sagkeeng CFS asks you to participate in Orange Shirt Day by wearing an orange shirt!

Why orange? Because of Phyllis Jack Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who went to St. Joseph Mission Residential School. On her first day of school, Phyllis wore an orange shirt that her grandmother had given her. It was immediately taken away, and that marked the beginning of Phyllis’s long separation from her family and community, a separation caused by actions of the church and the federal government.

Orange Shirt Day is a time for us all to remember those events, their ongoing impact, and just as importantly, the continuing strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.

Wear an orange shirt on September 30

Whether you’re at work, at school, or at home, get out that orange shirt! Make sure you take a picture to share on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (include the hashtags #OrangeShirtDay, #EveryChildMatters, and #Sagkeeng), and challenge your friends and family to do the same. You can also send your pictures to Kathy Randall, Director of Human Resources for use on our social media pages.

A Prayer for Orange Shirt Day*

Today we wear orange to remember and honour all the Indigenous children who went to Residential Schools.
Today we wear orange and we pray for the Residential School and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.
Today we wear orange and we are thankful for those who speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.
Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.

Help us Creator, to remember and act on this every day.

Meegmetch

*This prayer was inspired by Honarine Scott’s Orange Shirt Day blog.