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Orange Shirt Day: Beyond the Symbol

  • Writer: Vanessa
    Vanessa
  • Sep 16
  • 4 min read
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Every year on September 30th, many of us wear orange to honour the children who never came home, the Survivors, and the families who continue to carry the weight of the residential school legacy. These children were not just any children—they were the children of our Nations, many of whom had signed Treaty with the Crown. They were taken from their homes on reserves, often by force.


The removals were organized and enforced by the Canadian federal government through Indian Agents, who oversaw the reserves, and sometimes enforced by the RCMP or local police when families resisted. Churches ran the residential schools and ensured attendance, but the government was the authority that arranged the removals. Families who had been promised protections under Treaty were still subjected to these rules, separating children from their lands, languages, and culture.


Survivors are those who lived through these schools and endured physical, emotional, and cultural trauma, often for years. Their families—parents, grandparents, and entire communities—continue to carry the intergenerational impacts while reclaiming language, culture, and identity, healing from the losses imposed by a system designed to erase who we are.


The message “Every Child Matters” is powerful and sparks important conversations across the country. But Orange Shirt Day also reveals a harder truth: sometimes the greatest contradictions to this message are not only in governments, corporations, or schools—they are in our own communities and leadership.


When Words and Actions Don’t Match


It is easy to host an event, wear a shirt, or post a picture online. But real reconciliation requires more than a day of recognition. Too often, I have seen Chiefs and Councils speak about healing while continuing practices that harm their own people: favoritism, corruption, or silencing Survivors and grassroots voices. These contradictions weaken the meaning of Orange Shirt Day because they show our young people that words can ring hollow without action. This is my greatest concern for the future.


Politics Over People


Orange Shirt Day should centre Survivors and the children who never returned home. Instead, it can become a stage for politics—a photo opportunity for leaders who want to be seen, rather than a space to honour Survivors. When this happens, the intent of the day is lost, and the community feels the disconnection. Are we supporting those who are actively bettering themselves? Or are we feeding into cycles, like addiction, that harm our own people?


Growing up, I would wake each morning thinking: How can I make a difference today? What actions can I take to brighten someone’s day? This is who I am, this is who our people are, and this is what I was taught through love.


Community Contradictions


It’s not just leadership. We, as community members, can also contradict the spirit of Orange Shirt Day. Wearing orange for one day means little if we return to gossiping, tearing each other down, or ignoring the struggles of our families. In my community, it hurt me deeply to hear people speak poorly about someone I loved. Simply hearing it made their problem mine, taking away my support network and making me question our connection.


I learned to address this by asking directly, but many people don’t do that anymore. The old people taught us to speak openly and honestly. Colonialism taught division and lateral violence, and each time we feed those cycles, we contradict the message that “Every Child Matters.”


What Real Action Looks Like


If Orange Shirt Day is to hold meaning, it must carry into our daily lives:


  • Supporting Survivors year-round with programs, safe spaces, and real services—not just a once-a-year event.


  • Teaching our languages, cultures, and histories so children grow with pride, not shame.


  • Holding ourselves and our leaders accountable when words don’t align with actions.


  • Practicing kindness and respect within our communities, because healing starts at home.


Grounding in Love


Calling out these contradictions is not about blame—it is about love. Love for our children, who deserve more than symbolism. Love for Survivors, who deserve more than a day. And love for our communities, still healing from generations of trauma.


If Orange Shirt Day is to carry real meaning, “Every Child Matters” cannot just be a slogan—it must be a commitment that shapes how we live, lead, and care for one another every single day. The actions I take for the people I care about are not because I have to—they are because of love. And that is what love taught me.


Resources for Further Learning


To deepen your understanding of the residential school system and its ongoing impact, consider exploring the following resources:


These resources are valuable for anyone seeking to understand the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada. They provide insights into the experiences of Indigenous children and communities, and offer pathways toward reconciliation and healing.

 
 
 

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From Northern Alberta to the lower mainland of British Columbia. 

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Duncan's First Nation to Vancouver, BC.

Land Acknowledgement
I’m from Duncan’s First Nation, on Treaty 8 territory. I now live on the unceded lands of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo Peoples in Langley, BC. I’m grateful to live, learn, and grow on these lands.

 

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