Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day 2022 Events in Spruce Grove and Area
Circle of Reconciliation: Calling You Home
| Event | Description | Time | Location | Age |
| Indigenous Story Time |
Story telling is an important way to learn about Indigenous communities. This new program was created to honour Indigenous cultures and to promote intercultural understanding, to communication between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Join Knowledge Keeper Barbara for a fun, interactive story telling with songs, and puppets. |
10:30am-11:00am and 1pm-1:30pm |
Spruce Grove Public Library |
2-6 with caregivers (siblings & friends are welcome) |
| Orange T-Shirt Commitments | Write your own commitment to reconciliation on an orange T-shirt and place it on the library window. | Spruce Grove Public Library and Central Park | 10:00am-3:00pm | All Ages |
| Circle of Reconciliation: Calling You Home and Opening Prayer | A fire will undergo a ceremony and be lit by an Oskapios followed by an opening prayer. | 12:00pm | Central Park | All Ages |
| Elders Survival Stories | Elders will share their life experiences around the fire. *Mental health supports will be available on sight |
12:00pm | Central Park | All Ages |
| Mural Unveiling by Skydancer | Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Society (SICS) is a fledgling non for profit organization in Spruce Grove. Skydancer has commissioned a mural that will be revealed to the public and followed by speeches by the artist and director of Skydancer. | 12:00pm | Central Park | All Ages |
| Closing Prayer | Closing words by Elders and calming the ceremonial fire. | 2:00pm | Central Park | All Ages |
| Gathering at the Spruce Grove Public Library | Gather as a community to reflect and sing "Happy Birthday" to those that could not celebrate their birthdays while residing in residential school. This will honor the children that did not survive residential schools and show survivors we are grateful they have come home. Cupcakes and tea will be provided. |
2:00pm-3:00pm | Spruce Grove Public Library | All Ages |
In partnership with the City of Spruce Grove and Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Society
The Town of Stony Plain
The History of Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a movement that officially began in 2013 but in reality it began in 1973 when six year old Phyllis Webstad entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School, outside of Williams Lake, BC. Young Phyllis was wearing a brand new orange shirt for her first day of school but the Mission Oblates quickly stripped her of her new shirt and replaced it with the school’s institutional uniform.
Today, events are designed to commemorate the residential school experiences, to witness and honor the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.
As of 2021, Orange Shirt Day also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and is a Canadian statutory holiday.
More about the story of Orange Shirt Day
What is Orange Shirt Day? (kids resource)
Self-Care Guide from the Faculty of Native Studies (University of Alberta)