OFFICIAL ORANGE SHIRT SOCIETY ORANGE SHIRTS
There are a lot of people selling orange shirts right now. Many do not realize that there is an origin story and copyright that needs to be respected. The Orange Shirt Society expects that everyone who creates and sells their own orange shirt "Every Child Matters" design will make a donation to them for every shirt sold. For more information: visit https://www.orangeshirtday.org/shirts--gifts.html and scroll down to "Copyright".
TLTP IS A DISTRIBUTOR OF OFFICIAL ORANGE SHIRT SOCIETY T-SHIRTS
ORDER YOUR OFFICIAL OSS SHIRTS HERE
September 30th has officially been declared the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this day we call on all Canadians to focus and listen with open hearts to the stories of residential school survivors and their families, and to remember those that didn't make it home. Wearing an orange shirt at public events beyond Orange Shirt Day has become symbolic of feeding the fire of truth.
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself. It brought together former students and their families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations along with the Cariboo Regional District, the Mayors and municipalities, School Districts and civic organizations in the Cariboo Region.
The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of this project.
As spokesperson for the Reunion group leading up to the events, former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told her story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year old girl when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was stripped from her, along with her dignity, on her first day of school and never returned. The group came to the realization that all survivors had similar stories, and many with far more horrendous experiences. The orange shirt became a symbol for taking back the power that was stolen from this young girl and all children who were prisoners of the system.
The events in May 2013 were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Chief Justice Murray Sinclair challenged all of the participants to keep the reconciliation process alive, and this orange flame of truth and reconciliation continues to spread across the country.
The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind: a discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is a day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter!!
The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It is also an opportunity for First Nations, governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
The Orange Shirt Society developed a curriculum to provide education about residential schools and the true history of our nation. Chilcotin School District No. 27 was chosen by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) to pilot curriculum changes for all Grade 5 and Grade 10 students reflecting the residential school experience, to be implemented province-wide. Resolutions were passed in support of Orange Shirt Day by local governments, school districts, and First Nations in the Cariboo and beyond. Most recently the AFN Chiefs-in-Council passed a resolution declaring Orange Shirt Day "first step in reconciliation", and pledging to bring the message home as well as to the government of Canada and the churches responsible. We encourage schools all across Canada to embrace this new curriculum and to encourage others to do the same.
"As an Indigenous Orange Shirt Society distributor, we are both pained and grateful to witness this historic moment of Canada's acknowledgement and overwhelming response to the truth about the horrors and consequences of the purposeful assimilation and attempted eradication of the Indigenous people and its culture.
This new air of reality has left many feeling guilt-ridden and disillusioned with our country and its founders. Wearing an orange shirt has become a deeply meaningful and expressive gesture for both victims as well as those struggling to come to terms with the shocking truth of these horrific crimes. In this way, we are becoming a country united in our mourning. From the embers of the past, and our mutual desire to create a better world, we have begun to breathe life into a better future for us all.
The Anishinaabe have an ancient foretelling of this moment in living history. Highly respected Algonquin Elder William Commanda (1913-2011) was the carrier of several ancient wampum belts, one of which is known as the Seven Fires Prophecy. It speaks of a time when mankind must make important choices about their path. The prophecy states that if the right choices are made, it will lead to the lighting of the 8th fire, which will usher in a time of peace and prosperity.
Our people believe in signs. As we continue to watch this growing wave of flame-coloured shirts blazing its way across the country, we are filled with a growing sense of wonder and hope that perhaps indeed this is that long-awaited sign of the lighting of the 8th fire."
~ With respect and gratitude from the team at Turtle Lodge Trading Post Inc.
WHERE AND HOW TO DONATE TO HELP RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
The official Orange Shirt Society shirts we sell benefit the Orange Shirt Society. There are also many other organizations you can also contribute to. Here are a few links (in no particular order):
Canada Helps: (Has a list of many organizations you can contribute to): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/explore/campaigns/category/indigenous-peoples/
Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society: Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society is a B.C. based organization that’s been providing services like counselling and health and cultural services to survivors of residential schools. Donate here. Residential school survivors who need support can call the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.
The Legacy of Hope Foundation's goal is to educate and raise awareness about the impacts of residential schools in the form of educational tools and consultation with survivors. Donate here.
Orange Shirt Society works to raise awareness of intergenerational trauma caused by the residential schools and commemorate the experiences of survivors. Donate here.
True North Aid provides practical humanitarian support to Indigenous communities in Canada. They have several categories of aid you can contribute to, including housing, food and reconciliation projects. Donate here.
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society develops education initiatives, public policy campaigns and provides resources to support First Nations communities and ensure the well-being of youth and their families. Donate here.
Reconciliation Canada focuses on workshops and community outreach to further the dialogue around reconciliation. Donate here.
Chi miigwetch for everything you do to bring the children home!! 
