Tomorrow thousands across the region will be wearing orange and it has nothing to do with it being an amazing colour.
This year, the annual Orange Shirt Day coincides with the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The special day, which was created by the federal government earlier this year, honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.
Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is considered a vital part of the reconciliation process.
And while federal government offices are closed along with some provincial services (e.g. courthouses), Chigamik Community Health Centre will be leading local efforts to pay homage to those who lived and, in some cases, died in residential schools.
“This day is very near and dear to our organization, and is an opportunity to further educate ourselves and our community on the history of residential schools in Canada and their lasting impact on our Indigenous communities,” Chigamik’s Indigenous committee wrote in an email to MidlandToday.
“Georgian Bay has played a very important geographical role within our history, and has been home for many of our strong, resilient Indigenous communities.”
Committee members go on to note that they hope Thursday’s activities share some knowledge around Indigenous history and culture while honouring children and survivors of residential schools.
“And to truly show our love and support for our local Indigenous communities,” they noted. “We believe this event is a good first step as we all work together towards truth and reconciliation."
Chigamik’s Truth and ‘ReconciliAction’ activities get underway at 5 p.m. with a “self-guided education tour.”
Activities located at Chigimak include a drumming circle, sacred fire and tobacco-tie workshop.
Nearby, activities along the Rotary Trail include an Orange shirt walk led by Greg Garratt and the Georgian Bay Métis Council.
Tiny Forest Academy will also be on hand to offer art activities and storytelling for young families while Beausoleil Island National Historic Site of Canada will share the history of “our ancestors” in Georigan Bay. Megamindful Living will be serving cold and hot tea along the trail.
The event concludes with everyone invited to share a moment to honour the lost children of residential schools and their families as the sun sets on Georgian Bay.
Orange Shirt Day, meanwhile, is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not.
This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her.
It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
A 24-hour national residential school crisis line to support former students and their families is available at (866) 925-4419.
