You may have noticed some people out today sporting orange for Orange Shirt Day.
The movement began in 2013 to recognize and bring awareness about the impact of residential schools.
The idea for the day was created after Phyllis Webstad spoke about her experiences publicly in the spring of 2013 about her first-hand experience at one of the schools.
She described being six years old in 1973 and wearing her brand new orange shirt on her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential school in British Columbia, where they had it stripped off her back and made to wear a uniform.
It was in these schools where First Nations students were mentally, sexually and physically abused.
Sept. 30 is the date chosen for the Every Child Matters orange shirt day campaign to educate and bring awareness of the horrible treatment endured by the Indigenous community.
It was around this time of year that First Nations children were collected by government officials on buses and brought to their residential schools for assimilation into society.
Residential schools operated in Canada from 1831 to 1996.
According to Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., it is estimated that 150,000 children attended these types of schools and more than 6,000 died.
And 80,000 of the survivors are still alive today.
By taking part in the campaign, Canadians are recognizing the strength and resiliance of the suviviors and their familiies and their ability to heal after such a horrific period of time in our country's history. It is an opportunity to come together as a nation to celebrate the spirit of reconcilliation and hope for future generations.
To learn more about the campaign, check out the official Orange Shirt Day website here.
