Resources and Information
On September 30, we recognize Orange Shirt day, and schools around the district mark the occasion in a variety of ways. Orange Shirt day is not just a learning opportunity for students, but for our whole community. There are many resources to help you increase your understandings of Orange Shirt Day, Residential Schools, Reconciliation and Indigenous Ways of Knowing.
What is Orange Shirt Day? (From: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html)
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This project was the vision of Esketemc (Alkali Lake) Chief Fred Robbins, who is a former student himself. It brought together former students and their families from the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Southern Dakelh and St’at’imc Nations along with the Cariboo Regional District, the Mayors and municipalities, School Districts and civic organizations in the Cariboo Region.
The events were designed to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. Chief Justice Murray Sinclair challenged all of the participants to keep the reconciliation process alive, as a result of the realization that every former student had similar stories. (more info here: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html)
We have been very active in working with our Indigenous communities and staff to help increase the opportunities for all students to learn these valuable teachings.
Here are some great resources for you and your family:
Hul’q’umi’num’ Word of the Week:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK5KDDQK2cog_TmjF6LOtiP64OgZmIKHk
Hello Dolly:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK5KDDQK2cohyXudo6Xcic3zq_Wk-a1iG
Home Teachings from Sul’hween Hwulquletse’:
https://youtu.be/FBDgezHUXHU
Xe’xe’ smun’eem – Our Sacred Children:
https://youtu.be/7KqVnjg-3wQ
Other online resources can be found here:
https://sd79.bc.ca/services/district-learning-commons/orange-shirt-day/
Take a moment to learn from these teachers and don’t forget to wear orange on Wednesday!