Schools across the region are observing Orange Shirt Day today.
September 30th is the day set aside every year to remember the history of residential schools but yesterday was a PD Day.
KPDSB Student Achievement Teacher Michelle Parrish says it gives both students and teachers an opportunity to learn and teach more about the topic as the teaching has also been happening last week at schools as well.
Schools are also taking part in various activities to recognize the day including land acknowledgements and visiting memorial sites for residential schools.
Students are also studying through a KAIROS Blanket Exercise which is a way of teaching the traditional history of how the indigenous people thrived with their traditions and ceremonies before the European settlers came over.
The orange shirt comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, who upon arrival at a residential school in British Columbia in 1973 had her brand new orange shirt taken away and replaced by a school uniform.
Another activity is in preparation for Orange Shirt Day next year is designing orange shirts for next year, where the students’ designs will be sold.
