September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a day for us to remember and discuss the legacy of the residential school system in Canada, and honour the Indigenous survivors and non-survivors of that system.
It’s named for a story shared by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, who had her brand new orange shirt — bought by her grandmother — stripped from her on her first day at residential school when she was six years old. We wear orange shirts today in solidarity with her, with everyone who survived the residential school system and those who did not, and with their families and communities.
The BCFED honours today as a reminder of the damage done by colonialism here in BC, across Canada and around the world. And all of us here at the BCFED recommit to reconciliation and to dismantling this system of racism and oppression here on these lands.
