By Spencer Sterritt

Orange Shirt Day a time to reflect on dark chapter of Canadian history

Sep 28, 2018 | 2:53 PM

NANAIMO — “It’s important, it’s hard, it’s complicated, but it’s something I truly believe will make a difference.”

Friday, Sept. 28 was VIU education counsellor Dale Hunt’s fourth year hosting Orange Shirt Day, which remembers the victims and survivors of the residential school system.

His parents both survived the system which removed Indigenous children from their homes and took them to Christian schools designed to eliminate their traditional culture and learning. The oldest school opened in 1834 and the last one closed in 1996. Vancouver Island was home to several schools.

“As a father, I couldn’t imagine,” Hunt said. “My kids would be gone right now. I’d have to send them off to a residential school. That would be the most devastating thing I could ever do as a parent.”

In an era of attempts at reconciliation, Hunt said it’s important to continue talking about the dark period of Canadian history, even if it’s uncomfortable.

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“This era of history is important to remember because there are still survivors alive to this day and there’s still impacts to our community. It’s important to honour the courage and bravery it’s taken the survivors to make it to this day.”

Hunt said the responsibility of improving Indigenous relationships in Canada is one every Canadian needs to bear.

“We each have a responsibility to carry on this dialogue and work, not only for the survivors but for the next generation. We shouldn’t be leaving it up to governments, organizations or agencies to do this work.”

Orange Shirt Day was started by Elder Phyllis Webstad in 2013, when she shared her story of how an orange shirt she was given for her first day at a Williams Lake residential school in 1973 was taken from her forever.

The day is marked all across Canada and Hunt said he’s seen a substantial increase in attendance and awareness since the first event in 2013.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit