Watch Phyllis's Orange Shirt Story & Join the #OSD10for10 Campaign
Join the #OSD10for10 Campaign
We’re challenging 10% of Canadians and people around the world to listen to Phyllis Webstad's orange shirt story.
Join thousands of others as they take a meaningful step on the path of reconciliation.
Our goal is 5% achieved.
Take the first step towards reconciliation.
Listen and learn from Phyllis Webstad's story and her first-hand account of attending a residential school.
Video Trailer
Join the #OSD10for10 Campaign with thousands of others as they take the first steps towards reconciliation.
Listen as Phyllis Webstad shares her orange shirt story that began an international movement now known as "Orange Shirt Day".
The horrifying facts of
residential school systems.
*139 'Federally recognized Residential Schools', however the total actual Residential institutions in Canada were over 1200.
*The estimated number of indigenous student attendee's as published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report in 2015
*Estimated unmarked graves discovered by ground penetrating sonar, as of August 19, 2021
Questions you might have.
Listen to Phyllis's story to learn more.
We’re challenging 10% of Canadians to watch the powerful story that started a global movement.
September 30th, 2023 marks the 10th year of Orange Shirt Day.
Phyllis Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Day and a Residential School survivor, is renowned worldwide as one of the leading voices behind the global movement.
When you watch Phyllis' first-hand account, you’re taking a powerful step toward reconciliation.
And you’ll honour the stories of thousands of children who attended and may never have returned home from residential schools.
Listen as she shares the incredibly moving story that started it all.
Choose YOUR ReconciliACTION
Every individual’s journey towards reconciliation is different, and providing one road or pathway, would not be reflect of this. Instead, IISB would rather offer you a compass. The graphic and information below is intended to assist you on your important journey.
Listen
Listen to the stories of Residential School Survivors
Learn
Learn about the truth of Residential Schools
Acknowledge
Acknowledge that reconciliACTION starts with ME
Act
Act to engage in your role in the reconciliation and healing process
Social Media Bundle
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Have any questions? Click here to contact us!
"When I, a non-Indigenous Canadian, hear about the horrifying history of the residential school systems, the generations of abuse, and the heartbreaking discovery of unmarked children’s graves, I want to take some kind of action... but I don't know where to start. Listening to Phyllis Webstad and her powerful story has been an amazing first step."
- Aaron H.
Watching this video can be the first step in the journey toward peace and healing.
“Like so many Canadians, and as a mother, I was horrified when the news broke of the 215 children’s graves at the Kamloops residential school site. I felt powerless. I can’t go back to rewrite and change history. But I can take a small step to educate myself and my kids as a starting point. It was important for me to watch this film to experience residential schools through the eyes of a survivor and understand the importance of Orange Shirt Day. And find ways I can help with healing and moving forward together.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should people watch Phyllis Webstad's Orange Shirt Story?
Many people do not know or understand the full history of residential schools in Canada or abroad. Or why we wear orange shirts on September 30, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
By watching this video, and inviting others to join you, you’ll begin to educate yourself about this painful part of our collective past.
Asking residential school survivors to share their personal stories again and again is painful. Every time a residential school survivor tells their story they do it at the sacrifice of themselves. Watching this video allows you to hear Phyllis’ story, and the stories of many generations of survivors, without causing more harm.
When we have shared understanding about our history, then we can begin to walk together toward healing and reconciliation.
Just imagine the impact and healing that can begin when 1.5 million Canadian households take this meaningful reconciliACTION. The ripple effect of 10% of Canadians watching this short film will create a tidal wave of healing and hope.
Who are the collaborators for the #OSD10for10 campaign? How does it work?
IISB is proud to collaborate with Digital Human Library on our #OSD10for10 Campaign. The goal of this collaboration is to assist IISB on bringing these important stories from Indigenous Knowledge Carriers into the education and public library systems.
We’re tracking the number of times Canadians access and stream Phyllis’ story.
Our goal is to have 10% of people watch the video by the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2023.
Who is Phyllis Webstad? What is Orange Shirt Day?
Phyllis is a 3rd generation residential school survivor from Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band) near Williams Lake in northern British Columbia. When she was just 6 years old she was taken to St. Joseph Mission Residential School in 1973.
In this film, you’ll hear about her experience and what happened to the special orange shirt she wore on her first day of school. You’ll find out how Phyllis' story inspired the Orange Shirt Day movement.
Orange Shirt Day is now recognized on September 30 every year on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
2023 marks the 10th year of Orange Shirt Day in Canada.
Can I watch this video with my children and family? What ages are best for this?
Absolutely! The Phyllis’ story is appropriate for all ages, from 6 to 96 years old!
Reconciliation doesn’t happen by itself. It happens together. The more people who watch with you, the greater the impact!
Think about how you can inspire others to watch the film with you:
- Watch it with 10 friends
- Challenge 10 colleagues to watch it with their families
- Share it 10 times on social media
Watching Phyllis’ Orange Shirt Story is a meaningful way to stop the silence and start a conversation.
I’m not Canadian. Can I still participate?
Yes! Orange Shirt Day is observed in the United States on September 30, a National Day of Remembrance.
It’s also acknowledged around the world, especially where Indigenous or Aboriginal people were impacted by colonization.
No matter where you’re from, it’s important to watch the film and understand this tragic part of our history.
Count yourself into the #OSD10for10 campaign and inspire others to watch, too.
How can I get more involved in the campaign?
The only way we’ll reach 10% of people in the 10th year of Orange Shirt Day is with your help!
Step 1: Access/Rent the film
Step 2: Watch Phyllis’ Story with your friends, family and colleagues
Step 3:When you rent the video and log the number of people you are watching with, you count yourself in.
Step 4: Download the media bundle.
Step 5: Promote and share the campaign and your reflections on social media, an tag us at #OSD10for10.
Reconciliation doesn’t happen by itself. It happens together. The more people who watch with you, the greater the impact!
Watching Phyllis’ Orange Shirt Story is a meaningful way to stop the silence and start a conversation.
Where do the proceeds go?
100% of the proceeds from the #OSD10for10 campaign goes to Indigenous organizations to support residential school Survivors and communities, and to provide further Indigenized educational opportunities for the world.
From the IISB Family
As eloquently stated by IISB family member and residential school survivor, Joseph Naytowhow, “My truth is your truth, we are all in this together.”
This 10 year mark of Orange Shirt Day, opens a significant door to honouring the stories of residential school survivors. Phyllis Webstad has shared the story that has started it all, now is YOUR time to listen, learn, acknowledge, and ACT.
"THIS is a significant moment in time to change the trajectory for all our future generations. Reconciliation is a generational journey, but understanding why the ‘Orange Shirt Day’ movement needed to happen, is a foundational step to building better pathways and walking together." - Shannon Loutitt, CEO and Co-Founder of IISB
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