SHIRT SHRIFT

MY DAUGHTER, 8, BURST INTO TEARS. It was an unusual reaction for her — but perfectly reasonable. I was relating details of residential school experiences from six members of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Survivors Circle that we had published in November/december 2017.

She was learning about the schools in advance of Orange Shirt Day, September 30, in remembrance. And clearly, I was sharing new perspectives, despite leaving aside the sexual assaults, recurring nightmares, etc.

The day emerged out of the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events in Williams Lake, B.C., in 2013, specifically relating to a story told by Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, was taken from her when she arrived at the school. Canadian Geographic has partnered with the Orange Shirt Society (the day’s founders) to amplify awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ residential school experiences, hence our feature on Webstad and the groundswell that has helped Orange Shirt Day grow (page 44).

I joined the grassroots promotion around the time of that conversation. Two years ago, I organized our staff to wear orange on September 30, and last year as we launched this Paths to Reconciliation initiative, I suggested we “make” a human orange shirt at our Ottawa headquarters (above).

This issue has tons of great content, but none of it is more important than the story of Webstad and Orange Shirt Day. I hope this coming September 30, you’ll wear your orange shirt, too. There must be a bright future from this dark chapter.