Community members invited to wear orange on September 30
Online events have been organized at Ryerson in recognition and honour of Orange Shirt Day 2020.
On September 30, community members are invited to wear orange in honour of Orange Shirt Day, a global day of recognition and awareness-raising about residential schools.
This is the fourth annual Orange Shirt Day at Ryerson, where community members can gather virtually in the spirit of truth-telling, reconciliation and to provide space for conversations on the impact of residential schools and the legacy left behind in our community. For survivors of residential schools, Orange Shirt Day reaffirms that their lived experience matters and recognizes the multiple generations of trauma left as a result.
"Orange Shirt Day is designed to gently remind us of the painful experiences of those who attended residential schools and their families who are currently dealing with the repercussions,” said Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire, Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and Senior Advisor, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation at Ryerson. “It also serves to remind us that the truth of these residential school experiences are still mired in politics and inaccurate information. Those participating are asking for reconciliation of this part of Canadian history."
The organizing committee, led by Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services (as part of Aboriginal Initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion) and the Aboriginal Education Council in partnership with colleagues across the university, will be hosting a special event on September 30 to commemorate the day:
- Orange Shirt Day Opening and Reading of "Phyllis's Orange Shirt" from 12:45-1:45 p.m. Learn more and register online via Zoom.
Orange Shirt Day was identified as a key initiative brought forward by students as part of (PDF file) Ryerson’s Truth and Reconciliation community consultations.
"Orange Shirt Day teaches us lessons that are part of the history of Canada and Ryerson University. While Egerton Ryerson supported free and compulsory education, he also believed in different systems of education for white and Aboriginal children,” said Brian Norton, program coordinator, Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services. “This fourth annual event at Ryerson is an opportunity for all community members to understand what happened to Indigenous children as a result of those policies. I hope it can empower, teach and motivate people to see themselves as part of Truth and Reconciliation efforts in this country."
For more information, please visit the Orange Shirt Day page.