It’s an awareness day you may not be familiar with, but one that is gaining momentum. Friday is Orange Shirt Day, a day to commemorate the experiences of residential school survivors.
It’s already starting conversations in Salmon Arm where Salmon Arm Secondary held an assembly to mark the day.
Although it’s not always easy to talk about her time at residential schools, Thomas made a point of speaking to students Friday.
“I find it’s really important that there is some understanding and some compassion. People need to know our history of what we went through in the residential school,” said Thomas.
This ceremony is filling a dual purpose for the North Okanagan – Shuswap School District. It’s also serving as a reconciliation ceremony. This year the board accepted recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on education and pledged to take specific actions.
“This ceremony is just the start. This is just the start of the hard work of implementing the 94 calls of truth and reconciliation in our school district, in our homes, in our community and the nation at large,” said Judy Wilson, chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band.
The school district appears to be ready to live up to its commitment.
“I believe the chiefs are going to hold us accountable and they are going to be watching us learn and grow as we do it,” said Irene LaBoucane, district principal of aboriginal education.
One of the goals is to increase empathy and understanding among students; something the Salmon Arm Secondary School assembly appears to have accomplished.