Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’ story of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.

Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.

Today, the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba recognizes Orange Shirt Day through a walk of reflection in support of the children who survived residential schools and to remember those who did not. With our research community involved so closely with the Indigenous youth population and their health, we are proud to host this walk to bring people together and highlight that every child matters.

See the gallery below for some key moments from today’s walk, including a blessing from Margaret Lavallee, Elder in Residence at Ongomiizwen – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, at the Medicine Garden of Indigenous Learning.