United Church of Canada encourages us to show our colours
On September 30, people all across Canada will wear orange shirts to remember and honour Indigenous children who were taken from their communities and families to residential schools.
The summer of 2021 was a summer of orange shirts as Indigenous communities across the country shared the truth they have always known: that many of the children who never returned from residential schools remain on the grounds of those institutions in unmarked burial sites. These communities are now seeking to honour the missing children.
This Orange Shirt Day is also the first observance of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For settler Christians in particular, this is a time when we can reflect on our role in colonialism and the residential school system, and our ongoing responsibility to make reparations.
Indigenous Ministries and Justice at The United Church of Canada encourages everyone to participate in Orange Shirt Day!
Why orange? Because of Phyllis Jack Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who went to St. Joseph Mission Residential School. On her first day of school, Phyllis wore an orange shirt that her grandmother had given her. It wasimmediately taken away, and that marked the beginning of Phyllis’s long separation from her family and community, a separation caused by actions of the church and federal government.
Orange Shirt Day is a time for us all to remember those events, their ongoing impact, and just as importantly the continuing strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.
What We Can Do
On Sunday, September 26th (the closest Sunday to Sept. 30), on the UCC’s suggestion, we are asking everyone – whether they attend church in person or online - to wear orange. If you can, ask someone to take your picture in your orange shirt and send it along to us. (If they take the picture with a smartphone, it can be emailed to us: southwestunited@gmail.com). If we receive enough photos, we will create a photo collage to be shared on social media and in a future newsletter.
A note about orange shirts: There are many T-shirts being advertised and sold bearing logos and messages such as “every child matters”. If you choose to purchase one of these shirts, make sure that the proceeds are going to an Indigenous artist or to an Indigenous organization. But Orange Shirt Day doesn’t have to be about having the “right” shirt. I would suggest just wearing something you already have (or picking up something at a second-hand store as I did) and then making a contribution to an Indigenous organization. Here are a few local ones that are doing important work:
Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal: The NWSM is the only women’s shelter in Montreal that provides services exclusively to Aboriginal women and their children. Women are offered an up to three month stay in one of 13 private rooms, many of which are capable of accommodating more than one person so that women may stay with their children. NWSM also supports Resilience Montreal, the new day shelter and wellness centre right across the street from Cabot Square. Open to everyone, providing food and shelter as well as mental health and medical support. http://www.nwsm.info/
The address of the shelter is confidential, but donations may be mailed to:
P.O. Box 183, Station St. Jacques
Montreal, Quebec
H3C 2S1
Step by Step Child and Family Center is an inclusive daycare that challenges the existing systems to ensure their children receive the services they needed within their own community. https://www.stepxstep.ca/
P.O. Box 771, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Quebec J0L 1B0
Karihwanoron (Precious Things) is a primary school that teaches Mohawk language and culture. https://www.karihwanoron.com/
P.O Box 1439 Kahnawake, QC. J0L 1B0
A Prayer for Orange Shirt Day*
Today we wear orange
to remember and honour all the Indigenous children who went to residential schools.
Today we wear orange and we pray
for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.
Today we wear orange and we are thankful
for those who speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.
Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Help us, God, to remember and act on this, this and every day.
Amen.
*This prayer was inspired by Honarine Scott’s Orange Shirt Day blog.