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National Day of Truth and Reconciliation:
"Every Child Matters" Orange Shirt Day
September 30, 2023
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Dear Friends of Indigena,
We are pleased to announce that Gallery Indigena now has available the 2023 T-shirt design of "Every Child Matters" to commemorate the impact of Residential Schools. In purchasing an orange shirt, you are contributing to reconciliation efforts with partial proceeds funding initiatives that support Indigenous wellness, learning, and culture. Wearing an orange shirt helps to build awareness about the impact of Residential Institutions on past and current Indigenous peoples.
To learn more about the significance of wearing the Orange Shirt and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, click here.
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This year’s image titled, "Protected by Our Ancestors" was created by Coast Salish artist, Simone Diamond. Below, she comments on her design: | |
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"Protected by Our Ancestors" honours matriarchs who provide children the love, support, guidance, and resilience to face the multi-generational impact of Residential Schools.
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Orange Shirts come in Youth sizes Small (6-8), Medium (10-12), and Large (14-16), $24.99 each.
We also carry adult unisex Orange Shirts in sizes Small to XXX-Large, $24.99 ($28.99 for size XXX-Large).
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We continue to carry Every Child Matters wristbands, designed by Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) artist Morgan Asoyuf.
$5.95 each.
Two sizes are available:
Small - wrist size 4.75”-6.7” Medium - wrist size 5.75”-7.25”
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Funds from the purchase of Orange Shirts and Wristbands go towards the Native Northwest Reconciliation Fund supporting Indigenous wellness, learning, and culture. Since 2021, the Fund has supported over twenty college and university partners, created over two hundred and fifty scholarships and awards for Indigenous students, and donated more than $100,000 to non-profit and community groups. For more information, visit their website here. | |
NEW! Books for Kids, Parents, and Teachers! | |
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As a longtime educator (teaching from kindergarten to university), I know how important age appropriate resources are, and the importance of storytelling to help children learn and understand difficult topics. We now offer several books for different ages describing the importance of Orange Shirt day.
The following books are written by the founder of Orange Shirt day, Phyllis Webstad.
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"Phyllis's Orange Shirt" A picture book explaining the importance of Orange Shirt Day
Recommended for ages 4 to 6 ($11.95).
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"With Our Orange Hearts" encourages young children to open their hearts and listen as others share their feelings, and to be more comfortable sharing their own feelings too.
Recommended for ages 3-5 ($10.99).
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"Every Child Matters" honours the history and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island and moves us all forward on a path toward Truth and Reconciliation. If you're a Residential School Survivor or an Intergenerational Survivor - you matter. For the children who didn't make it home - you matter. The child inside every one of us matters.
Recommended for ages 6 to 10 ($24.99).
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For older children who may be asking more complex questions around Reconciliation and why we wear Orange Shirts, Phyllis Webstad has written "The Orange Shirt Story."
Recommended for ages 8 and up ($19.99).
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"Beyond the Orange Shirt Story" is a unique collection of truths, as told by Phyllis Webstad's family and others, that will give readers an up-close look at what life was like before, during, and after their Residential School experiences.
Recommended for ages 14 and up ($19.99).
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"Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters" explores such topics as the historical, generational, and continual impact of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples. At the end of each chapter there are reflection questions and a series of student art submissions. Readers are guided to explore how they, and others, view and participate in Residential School reconciliation.
This is a great resource for teachers and educators ($19.99).
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The above books also have teachers' lesson plans available for educators. If you are interested in purchasing the lesson plans to accompany the books, please contact us at Gallery Indigena in Stratford. | |
Thank you for your continued support for Indigenous artists, and for recognizing the importance of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. | | | | |
