Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is an event that started in 2013.
It was designed to educate people and promote awareness about the Indian residential school system and the impact this system had on Indigenous communities for more than a century in Canada.
The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools.
Today, Division 9 students participated in Orange Shirt Day in a couple different ways. First, we tried to put ourselves in the shoes of Phyllis Webstad and created art based on what t-shirt we would want to wear on the 1st day of school and discussed how it would feel if it was taken away.
Later in the afternoon, we we had a school wide gathering outside. All Staff and students started with saying “Huy ch q’u” (“Hi-ch-ka,” giving of thanks, with our hands held in front at heart leave with palms open and facing upwards). Next we had a moment of silence and then listened to the honour song.

Nelson students, what was your favourite part of the day and how will you ensure that other students at school always feel like they matter, they are cared for and they are important?