Orange Shirt Day
It was the legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School and Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission that sparked this Campaign. The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to Residential Schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children, as we want to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations. It has grown into a movement and an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of Residential Schools happening annually.
Orange Shirt Day will always be September 30th; however, many communities and schools will choose to have the Friday if the 30th falls on a weekend, such as is this year. So many will have their activities on Friday, September 28th
10% to SAVE THE EVIDENCE
The Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School operated in Brantford, Ontario from 1828 to 1970. It served as a boarding school for First Nations children from Six Nations, as well as other communities throughout Ontario and Quebec. It served as a key tool in the effort to assimilate First Nations children into European Christian society, and sever the continuity of culture from parent to child. After closing in 1970, it reopened in 1972 as the Woodland Cultural Centre, a non-profit organization that serves to preserve and promote First Nations culture and heritage
As one of only a handful of residential school buildings left still standing in Canada, the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School is a physical reminder of the legacy of assimilation imposed upon First Nations children in Canada. More than 15,000 people visit the Mohawk Institute, as part of the Woodland Cultural Centre, every year. Visitors come to see not only what was once the longest-running residential school in Canada, but to experience the stories the building holds.
In 2013, major roof leaks caused significant and costly damage to the building. With such large costs to repair the building, the Woodland Cultural Centre conducted several Community Consultations to gauge the level of support from the community. The results were overwhelming, with more than 98% in support of the restoration of the Mohawk Institute.
The Save The Evidence fundraising campaign was launched in response. Its goal is to raise the necessary funds for repairs and renovations to ensure the physical evidence of the dark history of Residential Schools in Canada is never forgotten
http://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/the-campaign/