National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 27, 2024
September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in honour of the Indigenous children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led commemorative day to raise awareness about the impact of residential schools.
Orange Shirt Day, which highlights that "Every Child Matters", is meant to symbolize the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem of Indigenous children over generations. The day was inspired by Phyllis's story. Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), went to Mission (residential school) for one school year in 1973/1974. She has just turned 6 years old.
She had bought an orange shirt at a local school but when she arrived at Mission, she stripped away all of her belongings including her orange shirt. She said "The colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared."
The horrors that these Indigenous children, their families, and communities experienced are unimaginable. The intergenerational trauma has had a severe impact on their mental health. A 2017 survey of 10,030 First Nations individuals living off the reserve found that the self-reported mental and physical health scores of those who attended residential schools, whose parents attended residential schools, and whose grandparents attended residential schools when compared to those who did not.
Indigenous-led peer support and peer support designed for Indigenous communities is a great way to help Indigenous peoples cope with their mental health issues and build resilience. We have compiled a list of initiatives across Ontario.
Orange Shirt Day, which highlights that "Every Child Matters", is meant to symbolize the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem of Indigenous children over generations. The day was inspired by Phyllis's story. Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), went to Mission (residential school) for one school year in 1973/1974. She has just turned 6 years old.
She had bought an orange shirt at a local school but when she arrived at Mission, she stripped away all of her belongings including her orange shirt. She said "The colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared."
The horrors that these Indigenous children, their families, and communities experienced are unimaginable. The intergenerational trauma has had a severe impact on their mental health. A 2017 survey of 10,030 First Nations individuals living off the reserve found that the self-reported mental and physical health scores of those who attended residential schools, whose parents attended residential schools, and whose grandparents attended residential schools when compared to those who did not.
Indigenous-led peer support and peer support designed for Indigenous communities is a great way to help Indigenous peoples cope with their mental health issues and build resilience. We have compiled a list of initiatives across Ontario.
- Kenora Chiefs Advisory Wiisokodaadig Peer Helper Program
- Métis Nation of Ontario Mental Wellness Programs
- True Self Debwewndizwin programs
- CMHA Ontario resources list
To learn about Orange Shirt Day, you can visit the Orange Shirt Society.