Orange Shirt Day - Sept. 30th
We spent some time on Thursday, September 29th and Friday, September 30th talking about what Orange Shirt Day was all about. Here is a website with more information about this important national initiative: http://www.orangeshirtday.org/
I am hopeful that your child has been able to tell you what Orange Shirt Day was all about. We wear orange on Friday September 30th as a way to remember the hardships endured by children taken into Residential Schools. After all that they learned in grade 3 about our First Nations, many students were surprised and saddened to learn about these schools.
But THEY told me that it was important for us to learn about and ask questions about what happened in our history (even the stuff that we aren't very proud of), so that we don't make the same mistakes again. What a deep observation!
Here is what we did to help you in any further discussions about the topic:
I am hopeful that your child has been able to tell you what Orange Shirt Day was all about. We wear orange on Friday September 30th as a way to remember the hardships endured by children taken into Residential Schools. After all that they learned in grade 3 about our First Nations, many students were surprised and saddened to learn about these schools.
But THEY told me that it was important for us to learn about and ask questions about what happened in our history (even the stuff that we aren't very proud of), so that we don't make the same mistakes again. What a deep observation!
Here is what we did to help you in any further discussions about the topic:
1) When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
We watched a reading of the picture book When I was Eight to learn a little bit about what it was like for the author (Margaret Pokiak-Fenton) to go to a residential school. Please note that this is an age-appropriate book, and did not go into any of the most disturbing occurrences at the schools.The students commented that, although there was a triumph at the end, it still wasn't really a happy ending for the young girl. Here is the link to the story on youTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBrkJn3NeI |
2) Phyllis' Story: The Original Orange Shirt
We read the following excerpt of Phyllis' story to find out why orange shirts are worn on this day.
I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, and there was no welfare, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!
When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never saw it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color 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. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.
We read the following excerpt of Phyllis' story to find out why orange shirts are worn on this day.
I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, and there was no welfare, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!
When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never saw it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color 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. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.
3) Every Child Matters!
We talked about how both girls in the stories we read did not feel cared for. They didn't feel like they mattered. So we decorated an orange shirt with the slogan "Every Child Matters". Students traced their hands and wrote a message about how they could help others feel like they mattered. We talked about how we can't change history, but we can build the future into a place where EVERYONE feels like they matter. It's up to US!
I have attached a photo of their helping hands.
We talked about how both girls in the stories we read did not feel cared for. They didn't feel like they mattered. So we decorated an orange shirt with the slogan "Every Child Matters". Students traced their hands and wrote a message about how they could help others feel like they mattered. We talked about how we can't change history, but we can build the future into a place where EVERYONE feels like they matter. It's up to US!
I have attached a photo of their helping hands.