Milwaukee City Wire

Orange Shirt Day, which recognizes the traumatic and lasting impact of Indian boarding schools, will take place on Monday, September 30, 2024. Everyone is invited to wear an orange shirt on that day. This year, the observance of Orange Shirt Day at Milwaukee Public Schools has expanded.

The observance was begun by Phyllis Jack Webstad, a Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation elder in Canada. She was six years old when she wore an orange shirt, a gift from her grandmother, on her first day of boarding school in Canada. When she arrived, all her clothes were taken from her, including her grandmother’s gift.

MPS First Nations Studies this year has distributed 396 toolkits to provide MPS staff with tools for teaching and learning about Indian boarding schools. This is the third year that First Nations Studies has led the observance of Orange Shirt Day at MPS, and the observance has grown steadily. First Nations Studies distributed toolkits to participants at Central Services, MPS Specialized Services, and 86 schools across the district.

Each year, First Nations Studies has supplied educators with toolkits. The toolkits this year contained a resource list, lesson plans from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, letters inviting MPS families and students to participate, a book for instructional use, an Orange Shirt Day door sign, a First Nations Studies orange T-shirt for first-time participants, and an explanation of the T-shirt design.

Indian boarding schools were in operation from the 1860s to the 1960s in the United States and Canada. They were intended to strip their culture from the countries’ Native groups. The boarding schools were funded and operated by the federal government and religious organizations.

In many cases, Native children were forcibly removed from their families and Native communities; their hair was cut and their clothes taken. They were not allowed to speak their Native languages. Although the schools are no longer in operation,"the lasting impacts of historical trauma from Indian boarding schools continues to affect our Native children today," noted Richanda Kaquatosh, Supervisor of First Nations Studies.

Because breaking silence and taking action are key to commemoration, First Nations Studies suggests four ways to observe Orange Shirt Day:

Educate yourself by learning about the history of Indian boarding schools; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and the impact of historical trauma on Native communities.

Start conversations with friends, family members,and colleagues about Orange Shirt Day.

Support Indigenous-led organizations that are continuing work on Native issues,such as The Native American Rights Fund,and The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

Write your national legislator in support of passing The Truth And Healing Commission On Indian Boarding Schools Policies Act S1723 And HR7227.

More information can be found through The Orange Shirt Society which formed in 2015,to raise awareness of impacts Of Indian Boarding Schools.The first Orange Shirt Day was observed In 2013,in British Columbia Canada.