Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

We recognize the tragic history of residential schools. We honour the survivors and lost children, their families and communities.

Aritzia acknowledges that our primary Canadian operations take place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Nations — xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

This year is the 10th year anniversary of Orange Shirt Day — Every Child Matters.To mark this milestone, we had a conversation with Aritzia Community™ partners Phyllis Webstad, Sunshine Tenasco and Cheryl Robinson.
Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Founder | @orangeshirtsociety

Phyllis Webstad is Secwépemc from Canoe Creek Dog Creek First Nation. She created Orange Shirt Day in 2013. The goal was to create awareness of the generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through the slogan “Every Child Matters” and by encouraging supporters to wear Orange T-shirts on September 30.

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“I chose an orange shirt for my first day of school. It was bright and exciting, just like how I felt going to school for the first time. The nuns took my shirt, and no matter how much I protested, they wouldn't give it back. I never wore my shirt again.”
FA23 NDTR Sustain - Img C Phyllis wears the Orange Shirt Day T-shirt.
“We chose September for Orange Shirt Day because that's the time of year the children were taken from their homes and families.”
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“The greatest moments being the ambassador for the Orange Shirt Society have been speaking with survivors — when survivors thank me for what I'm doing because not all of them are able to tell their story. I hold that with me. It gives me the strength to continue doing what I'm doing.”
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO
“My grandchildren are growing up to be who they were meant to be. If that's happening all across Canada in Indigenous communities, then a huge change is upon us. We were seeds, and we're starting to grow now. We survived and we're thriving.”
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Sunshine Tenasco Pow Wow Pitch Founder and Chair | @pow_wow_pitch

Sunshine Tenasco is from Kitigan Zibi Anishnabe. She’s a mother of four, a children’s book author and the founder of Her Braids and Pow Wow Pitch. Pow Wow Pitch is a grassroots community supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs in their ideas to build business rooted in Indigenous culture.

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“Dragons’ Den changed my life. I didn't realize the impact it would have on Indigenous communities — to see an Anishinaabe woman on national TV.”
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Sunshine wears The ‘90s Marlo Hi-Rise Baggy Jean, Contour Squareneck Bodysuit and Index Blazer.
“Indigenous entrepreneurship is important for so many reasons. It empowered me to make life decisions that changed my life for the better.”
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SWIPE TO READ ON
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“This is a foreign feeling to me, but we all have to level up in our own way. And I feel like this is levelling up.”
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WATCH THE FULL VIDEO
Cheryl Robinson CEO of Urban Native Youth Association | @unyayouth

Cheryl Robinson is St’at’imc and Nisga’a. She’s been supporting Indigenous communities in Vancouver for over 25 years. Now, she’s the CEO of Urban Native Youth Association — a nonprofit organization for Indigenous youth excellence.

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“Urban Native Youth Association was founded in 1989. It started off with one single school-based program. From there, the organization just kept asking the Indigenous youth what they wanted — what services and resources did they need?”
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Cheryl wears the Pegasus T-Shirt and New Essential Relaxed Poplin Shirt.
“Our Indigenous folks are carrying a lot of trauma. Once the healing started, our people are getting stronger.”
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“I think one way allies can meaningfully engage is to learn about and understand what the systems have done — and what the systems continue to do — to Indigenous people.”
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WATCH THE FULL VIDEO
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Morningstar
x Aritzia

To honour this day, we created a limited-edition Orange T-shirt designed by Indigenous artist Morningstar. 100% of the proceeds from this shirt will be donated to Orange Shirt Society.

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Our Commitment

Learning Journey We work with Indigenous leaders to ensure our continuous learning on equity-seeking Indigenous peoples worldwide.
Partnerships We support Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada with a focus on opportunity, wellbeing and belonging. We’re proud to be in partnership with Urban Native Youth Association, Pow Wow Pitch and Orange Shirt Society.
Internships We have dedicated spots in our annual internship program for newly graduated Indigenous students. The program provides coaching and mentorship from world-class leaders to provide meaningful business experience and support growth potential.

Resources

Books
  • Ohpikiihaakan-ohpihmeh (Raised somewhere else) by Colleen Cardinal
  • In The Shadow of the Red Brick Building by Raymond Tony Claire
  • Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
  • 21 Thing You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
  • A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System by John S. Milloy
  • Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in Canada by Paulette Regan
  • Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
  • All Our Relations – Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga
  • Indian Horse by Reichard Wagamese
  • Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jessie Wente
  • A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Children’s and Young Adult Books
  • The Train by Jodie Callaghan, illustrated by Georgia Lesley
  • When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
  • Nibi’s Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco, illustrated by Chief Chief Lady Bird
  • The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Broc Nicol
  • Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Broc Nicol
  • Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette
Films & TV
  • Beans
  • Indian Horse
  • Little Bird
  • nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up
  • Rhymes for Young Ghouls
  • We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice
  • We Were Children
Podcasts
  • All My Relations
  • Kuper Island
  • Pieces
  • Telling Our Twisted Histories
  • The Secret Life of Canada

A Conversation with Morningstar

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