@ Orange Shirt Day (TW)

[picksthemusic]

Today is 9/30, and our county is (finally) declaring today Orange Shirt Day to remember, recognize, and honor those that never came home from boarding schools. We had a lovely and moving service today at my work building, and I'm so glad I was able to be there.


salish-current.org/2024/09/18/orange-shirt-day-indigenous-resiliency-and-bridging-communities/

[heygrey]

I love that this is getting more traction in the US. We have been recognizing Orange Shirt Day for years, but I live in the region where it originated and live/work in an indigenous community. It is now a provincial statutory holiday in British Columbia and many provinces in Canada.

When we talk about residential schools and the generational trauma they have caused, it is really important to recognize that this is not history from hundreds of years ago. The last school in Canada closed in 1996. There are people my age (40ish) who were forced to attend these schools. The last boarding school in the US closed in 1978, but it still effects our current generation.

[loira]

Agree - I'm glad this (or something similar) is getting more recognition in the US. I heard Phyllis Webstad speak at a conference once and her story was so powerful and moving. It was hard to think about the fact that her story isn't unique, but I think it's important to address the hard things.

[aurora]

I was pleasantly surprised to see this here in the States and hope it picks up. I first learned about it when I was temporarily living in Canada a few years back.