Schools in Regina are once again planning to educate their students about Canada’s history.
“Many schools are doing school wide events on Orange Shirt Day,” said Sarah Longman of the Regina Public School Board.
Orange Shirt Day is an annual event that is meant to recognize the history of residential schools and its place in Canadian history.
Longman says right now schools are being supported by resource people and curriculum resource pieces to share with the classrooms for Orange Shirt Day.
“Teachers play an important role in keeping the knowledge of residential schools alive,” said Longman.
Longman acknowledges the Truth and Reconciliations Commission putting a spotlight on the understanding of residential schools and increasing the knowledge base which has made things like Orange Shirt Day conceivable.
“Part of our reconciliation work as Canadians and citizens is to understand what our history is and to know the absolute facts of history and teaching and passing on our history to the younger generation. That is how we keep that knowledge alive.”
“We have done a lot of work with our elders… they have shared numerous times why it is important to remember and to wear orange on orange shirt day.”
Longman said Regina once had a residential school, The Regina Indian Industrial School that operated between 1891-1910. The school once stood where the Paul Dojack Youth Centre is now located. A cemetery is located on Pinkie Road outside of Regina for the children who passed away while living at the school.
“There are a group of people and movements who are working diligently in trying to rectify some of the wrongs of the past by caring for and taking care of the existing cemeteries.”
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 in Williams Lake, British Columbia and has become an annual occasion across the Canada.
On Friday, September 28th an Orange Shirt Day event will be held in Victoria Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
