Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters
What is Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is recognized each year on September 30 to honour Indigenous children who attended Residential Schools in Canada, the Survivors, their families, and communities. The day promotes awareness of the tragic legacy of Residential Schools and supports reconciliation.
Orange Shirt Day began from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwépemc woman. On her first day at a Residential School in 1973, she wore a new orange shirt given to her by her grandmother. When she arrived at the school, the shirt was taken away and never returned. This experience became a symbol of the loss of culture, identity, language, and belonging experienced by many Indigenous children.
The orange shirt serves as a reminder that “Every Child Matters.”
The Meaning of Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day encourages everyone to:
- Learn about the history and ongoing impacts of Residential Schools.
- Honour the experiences of Residential School Survivors.
- Remember the children who never returned home.
- Support Truth and Reconciliation efforts.
- Celebrate the strength, resilience, cultures, and languages of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
Why is it Important?
The effects of Residential Schools continue to impact Indigenous families and communities today. Orange Shirt Day provides an opportunity for reflection, learning, healing, and action toward building respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
How Can Children and Families Participate?
For Young Children
- Wear an orange shirt.
- Read Indigenous children’s books together.
- Listen to Indigenous stories and songs.
- Create orange-themed art projects.
- Talk about kindness, belonging, and respect.
- Explore Indigenous cultures through music, dance, and language.
- Participate in community events and gatherings when available.
Family Activities
- Discuss what it means for everyone to feel safe, valued, and included.
- Learn about the traditional territory where you live.
- Attend local Orange Shirt Day events.
- Share stories about family, identity, and community.
- Support Indigenous authors, artists, and businesses.
Children’s Message
Every child deserves to feel safe, loved, respected, and proud of who they are. Orange Shirt Day reminds us that every child matters, every day.
Reflection Questions
For Educators
- How can we create environments where every child feels they belong?
- How do we respectfully include Indigenous perspectives in our programs?
- What actions can we take to support Truth and Reconciliation?
For Families
- What makes our family unique?
- How do we show kindness to others?
- Why is it important to respect different cultures, languages, and traditions?
A Closing Thought
Orange Shirt Day is a time to remember, learn, and honour the experiences of Indigenous peoples. It is also a day to commit to building a future where all children are respected, valued, heard, and supported.
For more activities visit Culture & Language – First Nation Early Learning Collaborative Website
