Orange Shirt Day with the South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society
On Friday, September 29, 2017, you will see the staff of the South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society in Ashcroft wearing orange shirts. Whether you see us at the food bank, meet with a family support worker, visit our office to ask about our parenting support program, or see one of our school-based mental health prevention workers - you will see all of us supporting Orange Shirt Day. As a non-profit organization with a unique connection to the origin of Phyllis' story in Dog Creek (Dog Creek is in the catchment area of our Victim Services program),we feel that this Day is an important opportunity for us to show support for the survivors of the residential school system.
What Is Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is a day that grew out of Phyllis Webstad's story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the St Joseph's Mission. It is a legacy of the St. Jospeh Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake in May 2013. These events brought together the survivors of that residential school so others could witness and honour their healing journey and commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Every student who attended the Mission has a similar story of healing - orange shirts help us remember the story told by Phyllis in 2013 of her first day of school.
What is Phyllis' Story
When Phyllis was 6 years old she lived with her grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. It was her first year of school (1973/1974) and her grandmother had bought her a new outfit to go to the Mission school. It was a nice orange shirt which she excitedly told everyone had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting - just like she felt to be going to school! That excitement didn't last though because when she got to the Mission, they stripped her and took all her clothes away. She never wore that shirt again. She didn't understand why they wouldn't give it back to her. Since then the color orange has reminded her of that time and how her feelings didn't matter. We invite you to read all of Phyllis' Story on Orange Shirt Day's website.
Why September 29th?
September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children's sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters. That date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools. Since this year that is a Saturday, we have decided to stand in support of all residential school survivors on Friday, September 29th.
Along with those at the commemoration events in 2013, we invite everyone to listen to the stories of the survivors of the residential school system, remember those who didn't make it, and stand in support of anti-racism and anti-bullying policies in schools by joining us in wearing orange shirts.This is an annual opportunity to stand together in an attitude of reconciliation and hope - for children for many generations to come.