September 30th Is Orange Shirt Day
Peterborough Community Legal Centre recognizes Orange Shirt Day, September 30th, a day for everyone across Canada, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous to honour all of those who attended Residential School, their families and their communities.
For over a century, Canada separated Indigenous children from their parents and communities through the strategic use of residential schools. These schools’ primary function was not to educate children, but was to systematically destroy any connection Indigenous children had to their culture, identity and community. The last of the schools closed in the 1990s; however, the devastating legacy of these schools continues to be seen and felt in all communities throughout this country. This was the subject of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Read the Calls to Action report: http://nctr.ca/assets/reports/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
Orange Shirt Day is named for the experience and story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a survivor of St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School. Read Phyllis’ story here.
