CONTENT NOTE: This article discusses the abuses and ongoing impacts of Canada’s residential “school” system. Please take care and reach out if you need support. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis line is available any time at 1-800-721-0066.

Over 75 participants joined Indigenous Friendship Society of Revelstoke for their inaugural march through town, held recognizing Orange Shirt Day on Sunday, Sept. 30. The group met at the credit union parking lot for opening songs and words from organizers Michelle Cole and Marlene Krug. 

Nearly all dressed in the orange shirts and hoodies that honours Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led movement that began 10 years ago in what’s been briefly known as Williams Lake in Secwépemc Territory by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a residential “school” survivor who shared her personal story of staff taking her orange shirt from her. The movement supports communities on a journey to reconciliation, raising awareness about the ongoing inter-generational impacts of residential “schools.”

Orange Shirt Day and Reconciliation

“This day isn’t for Indigenous communities,” Cole told the crowd of volunteers and growing participants. “This is for Canada to acknowledge its history.”

Often, Orange Shirt Day events are expected from local Indigenous communities when settler Canadians should be stepping up to take on that responsibility, Cole explained. Local Indigenous resources are frequently under-resourced, and the emotional tax of organizing a day recognizing Canada’s genocidal actions against Indigenous Youth can pull from other needed community resources.

Multiple university sports teams from across Western Canada that were in Revelstoke for a tournament joined the march.

“We knew we would be on the road for Orange Shirt Day, so we looked for an event we could join,” Kris Hartley, assistant coach of the Olds College volleyball team told Revelstoke Mountaineer. “This is part of what we do now, since 2019.”

The march made its way down Mackenzie Avenue before turning at 4 Street to access Campbell Avenue and Centennial Park Drive. Lunch was served at Centennial Park, potluck style, with chilli donated by the Revelstoke Legion.

“They called us up and said, ‘we would like to donate chilli for the lunch after the march. We’ll meet you down there’,” Cole said of the legion’s donation. During lunch, participants were able to read sections of the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action and discuss what actions they were taking in their own lives.

Marlene Krug, a local teacher for the Aboriginal Education program of School District 19, encouraged parents and relatives to ask the children in their lives about what students are learning about Orange Shirt Day.

“Pick up your kids’ books,” she advised. “I tell them how lucky they are to have these stories, this information. Read what they’re reading because we need that knowledge.”

A group of 20 participants stayed or rejoined the group for a moment of drumming and song at 2:15 p.m., a time picked to acknowledge the confirmation of over 200 burial sites at the Kamloops Indian Residential “School.”

“It was this moment of reckoning,” Krug explained to participants. Honour songs from various nations were shared, and Cole talked about the importance of Canadians learning Indigenous languages.

“These words, these languages were taken from so many,” she said. “Learn the languages of the area you live in, keep them alive.”

While this was the first march, Indigenous Friendship Society of Revelstoke has held for Orange Shirt Day, the organization previously hosted a forest walk, allowing participants to take the time they needed to walk through a forest of orange shirts. 

“It was a learning experience, but I think the community wants to support something like this,” Cole told the Mountaineer. “It just can’t be expected that (Indigenous Friendship Society of Revelstoke) take this on entirely. We need community help with these actions and events.”