Remembering the children

On September 30, community members came together as they have done for the past six years to commemorate survivors of residential schools for Orange Shirt Day. This year, however, was different. With the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the country and Canada finally recognizing

Indigenous leaders inspire Montreal crowd

Every word spoken by Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel carried through the heavy air as hundreds of people attentively listened, desperately trying to absorb their meaning. “Why did it take finding evidence of the children for you all to rise up together with us?” pleaded the Kanehsata’kehró:non, as she addressed the sea of

Kanehsatake unites for Orange Shirt Day

Courtesy Jadyn Lauder In a community where there is strength in numbers, Kanehsata’kehró:non know resilience and compassion are at their strongest when all members come together as one. With the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation prioritizing raising awareness about the legacy of residential schools, Kanehsatake is concentrating on ensuring September

Commemorating residential school victims

When 215 children were found in unmarked graves at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, Jessica Hernandez felt the news like a weight on her shoulders. “It was a really heavy week,” said the owner of Nicia’s Accessories. “I had never felt like that before.” She knew she was

Kahnawake to honour residential school victims

The verdict in Kahnawake is unanimous: all offices and organizations will be closed on September 30, as the community declares the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day). “The discoveries at several residential school sites have shocked the entire country,” expressed Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief

Orange Shirt Day changes gears

Orange Shirt Day will look a little different this year. The devoted community members Curran Jacobs, June Skye-Stacey and Helen Jarvis Montour, have been raising awareness about the legacy of residential schools for seven years now. This year, on September 30, the team has decided to hold a birthday party. “In residential schools,

Orange Shirt Day adapts to pandemic

(Marisela Amador, The Eastern Door) [apss_share] Dear Readers: As an essential service that is still open during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Eastern Door is fighting hard to keep news like this flowing, in our print product, though an online subscription at www.eastermdoor.com and here, for free, on our website and Facebook. But when a

Orange Shirt Day honours, remembers

(Marisela Amador, The Eastern Door) [apss_share] Many Kanien’kehá:ka came out to commemorate and bring awareness to residential school survivors on Monday for the fifth annual Orange Shirt Day, vowing never to let it happen again. It was a chilly fall morning at the green space next to the Orville Memorial Park, but little

Orange Shirt Day founder reaches out to kids

Phyllis Jack-Webstad wants to teach youth across Canada the truth about residential schools. (Courtesy Phyllis Jack-Webstad) [apss_share] What’s tougher than writing a residential school story for children? What do you write about? How do you frame it? What topics do you bring up? That was the issue Phyllis Jack-Webstad had with her first endeavour