W.A. Day school held a walk in honour of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
W.A. Day school marked Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconcilation early with a march through town and an assembly on the playground.
Students and staff, wearing symbolic orange T-shirts, marched on the morning of Sept. 27.
After their solemn march of several blocks they returned to the school yard for an assembly that began with a moment of silence led by elder Herman Many Guns for the children who didn’t come home from residential school.
Many Guns then offered a Blackfoot prayer.
“Today is an important day,” Many Guns told students and staff.
Many Guns compared Orange Shirt Day to Remembrance Day for its importance in remembering those who were lost, and to ensure the horror doesn’t happen again.
“I was so impressed to see this many people with orange shirts,” said Many Guns, who attended residential school. “I kind of got choked up a little bit.”
“This is how tomorrow is going to change. These young students are the ones who are going to change tomorrow.”
Many Guns said it is important to work toward a better future for Indigenous people and all Canadians.
Student Zoe Many Bears gave the recognition that W.A. Day school is on the traditional land and territory of the Kainai, Piikani and Siksika Nations.
“Niitsitapi people have been since time immemorial and have faced and overcome many challenges with one being colonialism, which is still present today,” Zoe said.
“Through truth and reconcilation we hope to continue to build bridges between the non-Indigenous and the Niitsitapi people.”
Student CJ Day Rider told the assembly that his Grade 5 class read the book Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad.
Webstad at a young age was taken from her parents to residential school, where nuns cut her hair and took a bracelet and orange shirt given to her by her grandmother.
“Phyllis was not able to see her Granny or other family members at home for 300 days,” CJ said. “This story makes me feel sad and bad for that happened to Phyllis.”
“Many Indigenous children had to go through the same treatment that Phyllis had to go through. Some children didn’t make it back to their families.”
CJ is glad Canada ended residential schools.
“Orange Shirt Day is a day to honour and uphold survivors of residential school and to commemorate those who didn’t return home to their families,” CJ said. “I thank you all for being here today, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, helping my generation and the next generation to thrive.”
“Remember, respect and love one another.”
