Why Do We Wear Orange?
On September 30, Tikinagan Child and Family Services invites you to wear orange for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to show your support for residential school survivors.
The residential school system historically separated families and disrupted community life. Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin, which means “Everyone working together to raise our children,” is the Tikinagan service model and works to keep families together, maintain our culture and respects the inherent authority of First Nations to care for our own children. The residential school system actively broke the authority of First Nations, caused trauma and pain, and disrupted a whole culture.
By wearing orange, we can stand together and honour the journey of healing and resilience of our Indigenous peoples. Showing your support goes a long way in starting a conversation about our history and its implications on our present. These conversations lead to action and change that can bring our communities together. We encourage you to act – honour and support residential school survivors and their families. Action can include…
- Learning about the history behind Orange Shirt Day (https://orangeshirtday.org/about-us/).
- Learn about residential school history and its current impacts.
- Participate in local activities and events honouring the journey of both residential school survivors and those countless children that were lost.
- Hold your politicians accountable. Learn about government policy and stay informed.
- Donate to and volunteer with charities that support residential school survivors and their families.
Commit to truth and reconciliation and help show your support by sharing your orange shirt post on social media and using the hashtag #Icommit2TR leading up to and on September 30.