By Josh Hall and Sheldon Spackman

Orange Shirt Day continues to build legacy of reconciliation in local schools

Sep 28, 2018 | 12:05 PM

It’s a day to raise awareness of the residential school experience in Canada, honour its survivors and for people to come together in remembering, recovering and reconciling while promoting that Every Child Matters.

Orange Shirt Day was recognized on Friday at schools throughout Red Deer and Canada in advance of its traditional day (Sept. 30).

Education Minister David Eggen stopped by Westpark Middle School to share in the experience and deliver greetings, noting the school is a leader in the province when it comes to bringing people together to learn more about the history of residential schools and how we as a society can move forward.

“It’s pretty overwhelming to see how the kids are leading some of the initiatives to see the integration between the urban First Nations, Métis and Inuit population here in Red Deer,” Eggen stated. “Everybody’s making a contribution, not just to the programming and the teaching here, but to the beautiful, wonderful new school that will open in September just across the field.”

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“We all have a duty to learn about our past so that we can move more equitably to the present and future,” he continued. “We need to build a new curriculum in Alberta that addresses the history so that we can move better into the future.”

Hayley Christen, Learning Services Coordinator with Red Deer Public Schools, said there is significant programming at both Westpark Middle and throughout the district related to reconciliation and the history of residential schools.

“The Industrial School here in Red Deer had one of the highest mortality rates of all of the schools,” stated Christen. “We have to learn from that so when we move forward, we can move forward together in reconciliation and recognize the value that all the cultures bring together.”

Persaius Desjarlais, a grade eight student at Westpark Middle, said Orange Shirt Day to her means acceptance.

“It’s to know what happened at the residential schools, accept everyone and just to honour everyone who survived and who didn’t,” she said. “We want to talk about it and we want everyone to know what happened.”

Fellow grade eight student Marshall Allooloo agrees with her classmate.

“You should accept everyone, no matter their colour, their nationality or religion” he said. “We’re learning a lot and I think we should keep learning about this. It’s a good thing.”

Meanwhile, at St. Teresa of Avila School in Glendale students took part in drumming circle and dance lessons.

Glenn MacLeod, who is with the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools First Nations, Métis and Inuit Support Team, led the exercise.

“It’s just that understanding and empathy. The younger kids, when you explain to them that a lot of times the students weren’t able to see their parents, they get it,” he said. “They understand and say ‘well, that’s not really right. We should make sure that won’t happen again.’”

MacLeod added that when he was in school, students weren’t given the truth, but now that they are, it’s everyone’s responsibility to reconcile.

“It is really important for everybody to understand our Canadian history, and accomplishments and things our First Nations, Métis and Inuit gave to us in the development of this country.”

Since 2016, the Government of Alberta has signed separate Framework Agreements with the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council and the four Maskwacis Cree Nations.

These agreements are the first of their kind in Alberta and are said to be a vital step towards reconciliation and improving access to opportunities for First Nations students in Alberta.

Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 when one woman shared her story of having her brand new orange shirt taken away from her on her first day at a residential school, and with it her identity.

It has since become an opportunity for First Nations, governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.