Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for the college community to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.
Indigenous students were invited to submit a custom graphic for an orange shirt to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
This year's shirt was designed by Payton Maffioli, a Métis student in the Recreation, Fish & Wildlife Program. It will be available in the Castlegar Bookstore starting on Monday, September 11. Shirts are $24 for adults and $14 for kids, with $5 from each sale donated to the Orange Shirt Society and the Kuu-us Crisis Line Society.
Learn more about Payton and her design.
The Origins of Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation Elder in Williams Lake, BC. She wore a bright orange shirt to her first day of residential school in 1973 when she was six years old.
The shirt was taken from her and since then, the colour orange has reminded her that her feelings didn't matter. Orange Shirt Day was started in Williams Lake in 2013 to commemorate all residential school survivors.
Learn more about Phyllis’ story and Orange Shirt Day.