Phyllis Webstad reflects on Orange Shirt Day 2022
Trigger warning: readers may be triggered by the recount of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE — Phyllis Webstad is full of appreciation to be with her family as Ontario welcomes them this Orange Shirt Day, September 30.
Phyllis Jack Webstad is an Indian Residential School Survivor from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem (Canoe Creek/Dog Creek) First Nation in British Columbia. Phyllis inspired the Orange Shirt Day movement by sharing her story of having her new orange shirt taken away from her on the first day of school at the age of six in 1973.
In the book, Orange Shirt Day, edited by Phyllis and Joan Sorley, it is written that Chief Fred Robbins, Northern Secwépemc from Esk’etemc First Nation, has this vision for reconciliation. “…all people remembering and learning what happened at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, honouring and helping the Survivors recover from their experience and ultimately reconciling together.”
Phyllis says Chief Robbins involved the community in understanding and learning what happened just down the road in that Indian Residential School.
Phyllis has had to put her calendar on hold as she travels over 4,000 kilometres for events and engagements in Ontario on the days leading up to Orange Shirt Day, also the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
While on the way to Vancouver to record a message for the BC Lions playing September 30, Phyllis explained the itinerary for the trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto is full.
With her family members included on the trip, September 30 will be extra special for Phyllis.
“I’ve never been with my son or my grandchildren on Orange Shirt Day,” she says. “This is a trip that has been on our bucket list for a long time.”
Asked what we should all be doing to progress reconciliation, Phyllis says a member on the Survivors Circle for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is always reminding everyone that the truth comes before reconciliation.
“It’s good that we’re doing everything that we’re doing but the truth needs to be told and we need to continue to hear the truths of Survivors and their families,” she says. “And Survivors, the ones that have a lot of years. Like for me, I have one year. The ones that are like my aunts and my uncles are in their seventies and eighties. Their truths need to be told. They have more yesterdays than tomorrows.”
“That’s the message… Truth comes before reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day was created to honour Survivors and their families and to remember those that never made it home,” she adds. “Orange Shirt Day is a conversation starter, a door opener. The whole thing was in response to Murray Sinclair’s challenge to Canadians to keep the conversation happening after the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) wrapped up. And as we know, the final report was June of 2015… It’s all about conversation. Keep talking about it. Keep feeling about it if possible. Feeling brings healing.”
“It’s good. We had thought one day originally, it was for the Cariboo – Tsilhqot’in. That we would talk that one day about our Residential School here. And I’ve always maintained that the whole day, this movement I’ve heard it called, is divinely guided,” she continues. “It has to be. I believe it. The ancestors and the children are behind it. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation would not be what it is without Kamloops 215.”
In 2021, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation reported the potential burial sites of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site using ground-penetrating radar.
Phyllis explains the push for the National Day for Truth and reconciliation was at the second round (for Bill C-5) in the House of Commons.
“The politicians and I did everything we could for it to get Third Reading. Last year 2021, January right up to that May, we were trying; trying to get them to do the right thing and pass it so that it could go onto the Senate before they adjourned for the summer.”
Phyllis says it was the day that Chief Casimir announced that the unmarked graves of 215 children had been recovered that made the difference.
“The next morning, I got a call. That day it would receive Third Reading. And within a week, it had gone through the Senate and received Royal Assent. This whole thing is divinely guided. For whatever reason, my orange shirt story was chosen.”
Phyllis knows to take care of herself as she continues her important work of calling on Canadians to open their minds and hearts to hear truths of the Survivors of Indian Residential Schools.
“I just do my best to do right by it and keep going and look after myself and hope I live to be a ripe, old age.”