WARNING: Some readers may find the following content distressing.
The founder of the Orange Shirt Society has taken a stand against unauthorized use of the term “Every Child Matters” by setting up her own kiosk to sell official merchandise featuring the society’s trademark. This move follows the appearance of members of the white nationalist group Second Sons Canada on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve land.
Chief Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkwpi7 condemned the recent gathering by Second Sons Canada, labeling it as denialism and racism. With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day approaching, Casimir expressed concern over the group’s intimidating presence.
The founder of the Orange Shirt Society, Phyllis Webstad, shared an incident where someone denied the existence of unmarked graves at Indian residential schools at her newly opened Orange Shirt Storee kiosk. This denialism contradicts the grim reality that over 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were compelled to attend residential schools between the 1870s and 1997. According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, approximately 4,100 children lost their lives at these schools, although the actual number is believed to be higher.
Origins of Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day originated from Phyllis Webstad’s personal experience when she arrived at a residential school in 1973. At six years old, Webstad had chosen an orange shirt during a shopping trip with her grandmother, but upon her arrival at the St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School, the shirt was confiscated, leaving her feeling worthless and insignificant.
Webstad’s story, shared during a project initiated by Esketemc Chief Fred Robbins, led to the inception of Orange Shirt Day, commemorating the time when children were taken from their families to residential schools. The date, September 30, was later aligned with Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Exploitation of Orange Shirts
Phyllis Webstad expressed concern over the exploitation of Orange Shirt Day by individuals and companies unrelated to First Nations communities. She emphasized the need to halt the unauthorized use of “Every Child Matters” for profit-making purposes devoid of genuine concern for the historical context.
Proceeds from merchandise sold at the kiosk will support the Orange Shirt Society and Webstad’s family. Webstad highlighted the importance of acknowledging the truth about residential schools, emphasizing the significance of the memorial cloth documenting the children who never returned home from these institutions.
Webstad plans to transition from operating a mall kiosk to opening a storefront under the same name in November.
