On September 30th, as every year, we honoured National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We began the day with a territorial welcome by Musqueam activist Cecilia Point. Elder Marilyn Tsinigine greeted us with prayers, along traditional dancers Larissa Healey, Peter White, and Juanita Desjarlais. Traditional food was prepared by our kitchen to feed the bodies and souls of those who attended.
Learn more…
Where did “Orange Shirt Day” originate?
Historically, the day was named “Orange Shirt Day” in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, a member of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. Phyllis was the third generation in her family to attend residential schools. Her Grandma had bought her a bright new orange shirt to go to school in. When Phyllis arrived at the residential school, she was stripped, and her orange shirt was never to be seen again. The shirt represented a piece of her being taken away as the church-run school attempted to force assimilation

From left to right: Juanita Desjarlais, Peter White and Larissa Healey