Join CapU in recognizing Orange Shirt Day
On September 30, wherever you are studying or working, Capilano University encourages all members of the university community to wear an orange shirt to remember and honour residential school survivors and their families. Wear your orange shirt, take a photo, and email your photo to Indigenous@capilanou.ca. Photo submissions will be shared on the CapU First Nations Student Services Facebook page at the end of the day. All submissions will also be entered in a draw to receive a beaded Orange Shirt Day pin.
"On Orange Shirt Day, I honour all those who attended residential schools, including the thousands who died while attending the schools," says Joel Cardinal, Community Engagement Facilitator with Indigenous Student Services at Capilano University. "Today and every day, I acknowledge and honour my father’s own eight year experience at Blue Quills Indian Residential School by being proud to be Cree. Proud to be First Nations. Proud to be Indigenous. Proud to be something that, for generations, including mine, we were taught to be ashamed of and hide."
The Orange Shirt Day movement is inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story. When she was six years old, Phyllis’ grandmother gave her a new orange shirt, which she wore to her first day at St. Joseph Mission School in Williams Lake, B.C in 1973. The school administrators took her treasured orange shirt from her. Today, Phyllis shares her story in a spirit of reconciliation, healing and learning from the past.
At 11:00 a.m. on September 30, join Phyllis Webstad for a virtual discussion on Orange Shirt Day. The event is open to all students, teachers and children from Grade 3 and up.
Submitted by: Linda Munro