Saturday, Sept. 30 is Orange Shirt Day in Canada, where people from all walks of life will wear orange to honour and remember survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and reaffirm their commitment to reconciliation.
A former residential school student, Phyllis Webstad, had her prized possession, an orange shirt, taken from her on her first day of school. The shirt, a gift from her grandmother, has come to symbolize the tremendous losses endured by Indigenous peoples – the shattering of kinships, cultures and communities.
On Sept. 30, Canadians acknowledge the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing socio-economic disparities that persist among Indigenous children.
Finally, the long journey to reconciliation has begun – with important first steps – as some underserved Indigenous communities are beginning to gain access to safe water and electricity.
"At the Mental Health Commission of Canada, we continue on our own path to reconciliation. This year, our efforts included expanded Indigenous representation on our Board of Directors and reconciliation dialogue workshops for all our staff," said Louise Bradley, president and CEO of MHCC.
"We continue to look for ways to build cultural humility within our organization. On Sept. 30, don an orange shirt and join us in recognizing Orange Shirt Day. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support."
For more information, visit www.mentalhealthcommission.ca or www.strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca.
