By Kelly Burgess,
Bruce Peninsula Press
The message that “Every Child Matters” was loud and clear at Bruce Peninsula District School (BPDS) on Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day) on September 30. The school acknowledged this reverent day by having all students participate in a school project to honour the children that lost their lives at residential schools. “So, every student in the school contributed their fingerprints so we could represent 6509 which is the number of indigenous children found at residential schools,” explained Breanna Heels, Vice-principal of BPDS. This creative banner will allow students and staff to reflect and be reminded of this horrible tragedy within our country.
History of Truth and Reconciliation
In June of 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a report including 94 “Calls to Action” to help repair the harm caused by residential schools. The committee chair at that time, Justice Murray Sinclair, estimated that there were over 6,000 residential school deaths adding that more could be discovered with further investigation. In December 2015 the final report was published. Finally in 2021, Call to Action # 80 “to establish a statutory holiday in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples” has come to fruition.
Since 2013, September 30 has been observed as Orange Shirt Day after residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad shared her story of being stripped of her brand-new orange t-shirt on her first day at residential school in 1973. Her incredible and heartfelt story started a movement towards a path of reconciliation for all Canadians to follow. Although her story took place in B.C., sadly these tragic events were happening all over Canada including Ontario.
Raising Awareness
BPDS also updated their school message board and hung orange t-shirts on the outside fence to commemorate this national holiday. Every student was encouraged to wear an orange T-shirt and acknowledge the “Every Child Matters” flag hanging in the school. This flag was also flown at half-mast at prominent locations throughout Bruce County to ensure public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools. This is an integral part for all levels of government to play a role in the reconciliation process.
Staff and students were not the only ones wearing orange in support of the call for action for truth and reconciliation. Local business staff such as Hellyer’s Foodland in Lion’s Head wore orange shirts for days to acknowledge this special federal statutory holiday.
This day was not just about wearing orange shirts but a time for people to educate themselves and gain a deeper understanding of the past and current injustices that are happening to Indigenous people. Here in the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula, we acknowledge and are grateful to the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation for their stewardship to this beautiful land.
To educate yourself further on Indigenous history, The University of Alberta offers a free on-line course at: www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada. Another great resource for learning more is the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at https://nctr.ca.
