Every Child Matters

National Day of Truth & Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is coming up on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day was founded to commemorate the experience of Phyllis Jack Webstad of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. Sent to a residential school at the age of six, she was stripped of her clothing on the first day, including a beloved orange shirt bought for her by her grandmother. It was never returned to her. Webstad’s story has since become symbolic of the loss and trauma endured by residential school survivors.

The date was chosen because late September marks the time of year when Indigenous children were rounded up and forced into government- and church-run institutions for cultural assimilation. The Canadian Residential School System was active for 165 years, from 1831 to 1996, affecting generations of Indigenous peoples. Today, we wear an orange shirt on September 30 to hold in our hearts the memory of all the Indigenous children and families devastated and destroyed by Canada’s residential schools. It is a time to reflect on the continuing impact of colonization, how it has shaped this country, and at what cost.

It is also a time to listen, to learn, to support. To raise up Indigenous peoples and communities whose traditions, stories, and connection with nature inspire and enrich our heritage. “In order to move forward, it’s important to understand and acknowledge the history of Indigenous peoples being harmed by colonialism, and the oppressive structures that continue to exist in today’s society. It’s also important to recognize the resiliency and strength of Indigenous peoples... to celebrate the accomplishments of contemporary Indigenous peoples and acknowledge the amazing work they are doing in the world.” - Megan Tipler, Métis, GTA Principal Instructor, Faculty of Education - Educational Policy Studies Dept, University of Alberta We are proud to feature an Indigenous-designed “Every Child Matters” t-shirt to commemorate NDTR and Orange Shirt Day.

Created with the artwork “Remember” by gifted Chipewyan Dene artist, John Rombough, the theme is described thus,

“As the two ancestors watch over the land, they pray for all the children - every child matters.” Your purchase of this shirt not only supports an Indigenous artist, but a community. Part of the proceeds of the “Remember” design are donated to the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada, a volunteer organization led by Indigenous women.

Available in Unisex Adult sizes SM - XXL. Shirt is 100% pre-shrunk Cotton.

https://www.thebrownbear.ca/products/apparel-every-child-matters-t-shirt

Wearing an orange shirt demonstrates support and commitment to the safety of Indigenous children, while reminding ourselves of the importance of accountability and Reconciliation.

About The Artist

The “Remember” Shirt was designed by John Rombough, a Chipewyan Dene artist

Born in Sioux Lookout in Northern Ontario, Rombough was adopted at the age of three by a family in PEI. In his youth, he was encouraged to explore painting and drawing, becoming a gifted woodland painter. As a young adult, the search for his biological father led him to his extended birth family in the community of Lutselk’e on Great Slave Lake in NWT, and he relocated to this community. The rediscovery of his cultural identity inspired him to alter his style of painting, as he embraced the Dene people’s teachings and their relationship with the natural world. His contemporary woodland artwork conveys the message of ancestral teachings of “respect for self, respect for people, and respect for the land”.

Resources:

• To hear Phyllis Webstad speak of her experience and the origin of Orange Shirt Day, please
visit: https://bit.ly/3kP85Iu
You can also read about her story here: https://orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story/
• If you’d like to learn more about Indigenous Canadian history and current events, please
consider enrolling in the University of Alberta’s FREE online Indigenous Canada course:
https://www.ualberta.ca/.../indigenous-canada/index.html
• Anyone triggered by accounts, experiences, or memories of abuse at Indian Residential
Schools may contact a 24-hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419