A Saunders Secondary graduate is the creative mind behind Atlohsa Family Healing Services’ 2022 orange shirt.
The Indigenous non-profit organization kicked off its annual orange shirt campaign on Thursday. Money raised through the sale of the shirts goes toward programs and services for people impacted by the legacy of residential schools. This year’s campaign theme is “Relighting the Fire of Hope.”
“The 2021 unearthing’s raised a lot of emotions among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. We can’t change the past, but together, we can change the future,” said Heather Cabral, Atlohsa growth marketing manager. “The orange shirt is a symbol to honour those who have attended residential schools and the orange shirts are also the catalyst around which we gather to Relight the Fire of Hope.”
Artist Shenoa Simon, 20, who recently graduated from Saunders, came up with the design featured on this year’s orange shirt. She is Wolf clan from Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and has had a passion for drawing since she was a small child.
Simon’s design features plants and flowers growing from the earth with the words “every child matters” printed along the outer right hand side of the image.
She said her hope for the future is that all peoples will come together to continue doing justice, respectfully and appropriately, for survivors of residential schools as Canada and the world moves from mourning and sadness to remembrance and celebration of Indigenous strength and perseverance.
The shirts will be sold at pop-up events and online at www.orangeshirts.ca leading up to Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Last year’s orange shirt campaign saw more than 11,300 shirts and hoodies sold.
Since 2013, September 30 has been called Orange Shirt Day in honour of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad. She had been given a new orange shirt by her grandmother which was immediately taken away from her on her first day at the residential school. People across the country wear orange each September 30 to honour residential school survivors like Webstad. Last year, Canada marked its first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on the same date. Coinciding with Orange Shirt Day, it is meant to remember the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children lost to Canada’s residential school system, honour school survivors, their families, and communities and to publicly commemorate the history and legacy of the institutions.
Atlohsa said a portion of its shirt sales will also be donated to the Orange Shirt Society founded by Webstad.
