Orange Shirt Day 2024
August 30, 2024
September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation—a day to recognize
and reflect on the deep and lasting impact that residential schools have had on
Indigenous communities. This legacy continues to affect generations today.
The orange shirt has become a powerful symbol of hope and a commitment to a
better future.
By wearing an orange shirt on September 30th, you make a statement to support
reconciliation and commit to the enduring truth that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.
Your purchase of an orange shirt from the MAKE Vancouver UNYA collection will
make a lasting impact on the lives of Indigenous youth.
Make A Difference Today!
Purchase your Orange Shirt Online @ http://bit.ly/UNYAandMAKE22
Click here for more information!
THE STORY BEHIND THE ORANGE T-SHIRT
Orange Shirt Day was inspired by the personal experience of Phyllis Webstad,
a member of the Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem
First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band).
When Phyllis was a young girl, her grandmother gifted her a bright, brand-
new orange shirt to wear to school. The cherished shirt was taken away. This painful
memory has since become a symbol of the broader movement to honor survivors
of residential schools. The day encourages conversations about the deep impacts and
traumas faced by Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families,
forbidden from speaking their languages, and prevented from practicing their spiritual traditions.
You can learn more about Phyllis’s story and the Orange Shirt Society here:
orangeshirtday.org/orange-shirt-day