Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
It honors Indigenous children forced into residential schools and the survivors who carry that legacy today.
The movement began with Phyllis Webstad’s story of her stolen orange shirt on her first day of school.
The day is about remembrance, education, reconciliation, and action.
Wear orange, learn the truth, and support Indigenous communities.
Tomorrow, September 30, millions across Canada and the US, will put on orange. But this isn’t a fashion trend. It’s a bold act of remembrance and reconciliation. It’s a way to say clearly: Every Child Matters.
The Story That Started It All
Orange Shirt Day traces back to Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a third-generation survivor from Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation in British Columbia.
In 1973, six-year-old Phyllis showed up to her first day at St. Joseph Mission Residential School proudly wearing a brand-new orange shirt her grandmother had bought for her. It was immediately taken away. She never saw it again.
That shirt symbolized love, hope, and identity. Losing it became a permanent reminder of how residential schools stripped children of not just clothing, but culture, language, family, and dignity.
Phyllis began sharing her story in 2013 at a commemoration event. Today, she leads the Orange Shirt Society, traveling across Canada to ensure her story, and the truth of residential schools, is never forgotten.
Why September 30?
This date marks the time of year when Indigenous children were historically taken from their homes to attend residential schools. Communities had been observing Orange Shirt Day for years before Canada made it an official federal holiday: the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Why It Matters
Residential schools operated in both Canada and the U.S. for over a century, with the explicit purpose of erasing Native identity. Children were forcibly removed, punished for speaking their languages, and subjected to horrific abuses. Thousands died and never returned home.
The impact didn’t end when the schools closed. The trauma has echoed through generations, shaping families, communities, and nations. Orange Shirt Day reminds us:
Remembrance: Honor those who survived and those who didn’t.
Education: Learn the history that was buried for too long.
Reconciliation: Commit to building a future based on truth and respect.
Action: Move beyond acknowledgment — support Indigenous rights and wellbeing today.
What You Can Do
Wear Orange: Show solidarity. Buy from Indigenous designers if you can.
Learn: Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. Seek out survivor stories.
Share: Talk with your family, friends, and coworkers. Spread awareness on social media.
Reflect: Ask yourself what reconciliation means in your own life.
Support: Donate to Indigenous-led organizations, shop Indigenous businesses, and push for policy changes.
Every Child Matters
Tomorrow, when you pull on an orange shirt, remember Phyllis. Remember her grandmother’s gift. Remember the children who never made it home.
Reconciliation isn’t just about the past. It’s about building a future where every child truly matters.
Wear orange. Learn the truth. Take action.