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| Image credit: https://orangeshirtday.org/merchandise/ |
The Orange Shirt Society has published a book, "Orange Shirt Day" © 2020 Medicine Wheel Education. Chapter 6 is titled, "How to Participate in Orange shirt Day". This contains some excellent suggestions, not just for the day itself, but also some things that can be done anytime, throughout the year. Here are some of the suggestions.
- Wear an orange shirt. This is the most obvious way to participate. You don't have to wear an 'official' shirt. You can make your own, so long as it has clearly written on it, "Every Child Matters."
- Become familiar with, take to heart, and then share Phyllis Webstad's story about her orange shirt.
- Become an advocate for Orange Shirt Day, publicly supporting Residential School reconciliation, and creating awareness of the individual, family and intergenerational impacts of Indian Residential Schools, and awareness of the concept of "Every child Matters."
- Become educated… and then educate. As you become more educated on this dark chapter of Canadian history you can begin to share that information with others. Seek out educational material on Residential Schools, Survivor stories, and the process of reconciliation.
- Acknowledge the Traditional Territory. Educate yourself on the traditional territory where you live, work and spend your time. To show respect, and as an act of reconciliation, ensure you acknowledge the traditional territory at the beginning of any gathering or assembly in the proper protocol of the territory.
- Be flexible and prepared to unlearn old, stereotypical ways of thinking. Be willing to look at the past, present and future from a new perspective.
- Donate. Among others, you can donate to https://orangeshirtday.org/support/