Sept. 30 has recently been designated a federal statutory holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Recognition of the colonial legacy of residential schools, and the intergenerational trauma inflicted upon the Indigenous People of Canada, plays a critical role in the truth and reconciliation process.
Sept. 30 has also been known for some time as Orange Shirt Day, a movement which began in 2013, inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad.Sept. 30 was a significant day in Indigenous communities because it was around that date each year that cattle trucks and buses would arrive in the communities to collect the children.
When Phyllis Webstad was six years old, she was part of a group of children leaving for residential school. To try and lesson the trauma of that day, her grandmother had taken her shopping for clothes to wear to school. Phyllis was thrilled with her new orange shirt and wore it with pride.
When she arrived at St. Joseph Mission Residential School, however, the children were stripped of their clothes, forced into showers, and issued uniforms. Though she begged to have her shirt back, she never saw it again. Phyllis could not understand why they would just take something that was hers.
Although she attended St. Joseph’s for only one year, the trauma inflicted during that time has remained with her throughout her life.
In her book, Beyond the Orange Shirt Story, Ms Webstad says, “I finally get it, the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter.”
The Metis Nation Columbia River Society would like to invite all members of our community to join us in a Blanket Exercise from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sept 30 at the Seniors Centre.
Bring your drum, bring your voice, bring your family and friends to sing the Warrior song with people around the World at 2:15 Pacific time, in memory of the 215 children found in Kamloops Residential School graveyard. All are welcome to join us for the warrior song, but the Blanket Exercise can only accommodate 50 people, so please call 250 939 7991 or 250 344 0580 to register.
Mina Kawapamtin (Until our Trails Meet Again.)
This column was submitted by a member of the Golden community to highlight local Indigenous voices.
