HONOLULU (KHON2) — Orange Shirt Day, observed on Aug. 30, is a significant day of remembrance and education dedicated to honoring Indigenous children who were forced to attend residential schools in Canada and the United States.
This day serves as a reminder of the dark history of these institutions and their lasting impact on Indigenous communities.
The origins of Orange Shirt Day can be traced back to 2013, inspired by the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) woman from British Columbia. At the age of six, Phyllis was excited to wear her new orange shirt on her first day at a residential school.
However, upon arrival, her shirt was taken away from her, a moment that symbolized the stripping away of her culture, identity and self-worth.
The orange shirt has since become a powerful symbol of the experiences of thousands of Indigenous children who were separated from their families, languages, and traditions during the era of residential schools.
KHON2.com was able to catch up with Lisa Kaʻanoʻi, president of Oʻahu’s Hoʻopili Intertribal Council. She said that Orange Shirt Day for her members is a more intimate and personal experience than tribal celebrations.
“We get together to honor those who went missing,” said Kaʻanoʻi. “We wear orange to honor their memories.”
Residential schools were government-funded institutions operated by Christian churches with the goal of assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.
These schools were notorious for their harsh conditions, where children often faced neglect, abuse, and the suppression of their Indigenous identities. The last of these schools closed in the 1990s, but the trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities continues to resonate today.
Kaʻanoʻi said her mother went to a boarding school in Alaska and that she had friends who experienced abuse and horrors.
“My mother will not talk about her time at the school,” explained Kaʻanoʻi. “We also have members of the intertribal council who had members of their families who attended these schools and survived.”
Orange Shirt Day is important because it encourages people to reflect on this painful history and its ongoing effects. It is a day to honor the survivors and remember those who never returned home.
Wearing orange on this day is a way to show solidarity with Indigenous peoples and to commit to the process of reconciliation, which involves acknowledging past injustices and working towards healing and justice for future generations.
Supporting Orange Shirt Day is also relevant to Indigenous communities across the Pacific region, including Hawaiʻi, where the legacy of colonialism and forced assimilation has similarly impacted Native Hawaiian culture and identity.
By participating in Orange Shirt Day, individuals can help raise awareness of these issues and contribute to a broader understanding and respect for Indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
Orange Shirt Day is more than just a day to wear orange—it is a call to action for all of us to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples, to support their struggles for justice, and to ensure that such injustices are never repeated.