BEADED ORANGE SHIRT DAY EARRINGS designed and hand beaded by a single Indigenous mama. ❤️

Wearing orange on Orange Shirt Day (September 30) is important because it’s a powerful act of remembrance, solidarity, and education. Here are the key reasons:

1. Honoring Survivors and Victims

Orange Shirt Day was created to honor the Indigenous children who were taken from their families and forced into residential schools in Canada. Many never returned home, and those who did often carried lifelong trauma. Wearing orange symbolizes recognition of their experiences and resilience.

2. Origin of the Orange Shirt

The movement began with Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a residential school survivor. On her first day at school, she wore a brand-new orange shirt her grandmother had given her, but it was taken away from her. That shirt became a symbol of how Indigenous children’s identities, cultures, and voices were stripped from them. Wearing orange acknowledges that loss and affirms that “Every Child Matters.”

3. Raising Awareness and Educating Others

By wearing orange, people start conversations about the legacy of residential schools and the intergenerational impacts on Indigenous communities. It helps keep the truth alive, especially for those who might not know Canada’s full history with Indigenous peoples.

4. Standing in Solidarity

Orange Shirt Day is not just for Indigenous peoples—it invites all Canadians to reflect, learn, and take responsibility for reconciliation. Wearing orange shows support for healing, justice, and building a future where Indigenous rights and cultures are respected.