Wearing an orange shirt as part of this program is meant to recognize the harm of residential schools.
Today is Orange Shirt Day in Canada.
It’s an annual display of support and remembrance for the thousands of Indigenous youth who were removed from their homes in the 60’s and forced to attend residential schools.
The day of recognition was inspired by the story of a former residential school student, who’s new orange shirt was taken away on her first day of school.
Wearing an orange shirt as part of this program is meant to recognize the harm of residential schools, to serve as an act of reconciliation and to help fight racism and bullying.
The last residential school in Canada closed in 1996.
