Orange Shirt Day

On September 30^th, we wear orange in recognition of all of the Indigenous children and youth who endured residential schools in Canada. We acknowledge our mistake as a nation in trying to force Indigenous people to assimilate, and apologize for the methods used to ‘educate’ them. We listen to the pain of survivors and their descendants. We recognize the inhumanity in separating families, and in systemic and personal shaming of children, families, and an entire population. We accept the enduring impact of residential schooling on the Indigenous population, on the individual families affected, and on every child who continues to suffer as a result. We remember that every child matters.

We recognize not our own responsibility in creating the system of oppression that resulted in sending over 150 000 children through residential school, but our responsibility in helping to heal the wounds perpetrated by our ancestors. We cannot change the past, but we can hear it, and feel it, and begin to make reparations to those affected. We can move forward in solidarity and support, keeping the agreements made by those who settled here before us, and working together to build a fairer, more equitable system. To do this, we must continue to dismantle the attitudes, laws, and systems that continue to deny services to Indigenous people and communities.

We recognize the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in foster care (52% of children in care, while representing less than 8% of children in Canada), Indigenous individuals incarcerated (18 times higher than other populations), or missing, Indigenous people living in poverty, some without stable housing, secure food access, and clean sources of water. We acknowledge that this is a population falling through the cracks in a system not designed to protect or even notice them. We admit that it is a system that was meant to eradicate their way of life.

But what we also need to consider is what we can learn from Indigenous teachings. We can help breathe life back into the wisdom that previous generations tried to stamp out.

Earlier generations believed they were doing the right thing by bringing civilization to a new land of savages, but this conviction was based on and also supported a belief in white supremacy and colonialism. As we step back and look at the bigger picture, we can see how misguided those notions were, and acknowledge that in many ways Indigenous wisdom could inform and improve the systems and strategies we have come to rely on. Many of the problems we encounter in modern society are based on capitalist and colonialist attitudes and approaches that were never a part of Indigenous culture.  

I don’t claim to be an expert in Indigenous studies, but what I do know of traditional Indigenous wisdom is that it is based on a deep respect for self, others, and the natural world. Practices such as healing circles, restorative justice, environmental sustainability, focus on simplicity, relational organization and governance, and attitudes of tolerance, acceptance, and equality are all in direct contrast to our hurried lifestyles that demand retribution, rampant consumerism, individualism and persecution of The Other. Imagine if we could wave a magic wand and apply those attitudes and practices to our current systems of governance and lifestyle. How could that improve our political system, our environmental crises, our policing and criminal justice system, our fight against racism, homophobia, and intolerance? How could it help create sustainable work-life balance? How could it restore relationships as the path to success and happiness?

As we approach Orange Shirt Day, I wonder how I can do more than just wear an orange shirt. How can I make meaningful restitution? How can I be part of healing the rift between settlers and our Indigenous hosts? What can I learn and apply in my own life? How can I make sure that every child matters, both Indigenous and other?

I challenge you to do the same. What one small action can you take to truly honour Indigenous people on this day?