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Phyllis Webstad

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Phyllis Webstad
Webstad in May 2022
Webstad in May 2022
BornPhyllis Jack
(1967-07-13) July 13, 1967 (age 57)
Dog Creek, Cariboo Regional District,[note 1] British Columbia, Canada
Occupation
  • Author
  • activist
NationalityCanadian
EducationDoctorate of Law (honorary)
GenreHistorical
SubjectCanadian Indian residential school system
Years active2018 to present
Notable works
  • The Orange Shirt Story (2018)
  • Phyllis's Orange Shirt (2019)
  • With Our Orange Hearts (2022)
  • Every Child Matters (2023)
  • Today is Orange Shirt Day (2024)
Notable awards

Phyllis Webstad (née Jack; born July 13, 1967) is a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) author and activist from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation,[note 1] and the creator of Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance marked in Canada later instated as the public holiday of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. She is a First Nations residential school survivor.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] She has written multiple books, including a picture book that illustrates her experiences with the residential school system.[8][9][10][11]

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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Main article: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The inspiration for the Canadian public holiday National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, originally called Orange Shirt Day, came from Webstad, who shared her story at a St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion event held in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in April 2013. Webstad recounted her first day of residential schooling at six years old, when she was stripped of her clothes, including the new orange shirt her grandmother bought her, which was never returned. The orange shirt represents the efforts made by the residential school system to deny children their Indigenous identity.[3][4][5][6][12] It is held annually on September 30 as a national day of remembrance in Canadian communities, where people are encouraged to wear an orange shirt. It was elevated to a statutory holiday for federal employees by the Canadian government in 2021.[13]

An Orange Shirt Day banner flying in Williams Lake, B.C.

Orange Shirt Day exists as a legacy of the SJM Project, and September 30 signifies the time of year when Indigenous children were historically taken from their homes to residential schools. The official tagline of the day is "Every Child Matters".[4][6]

In addition to simply wearing an orange shirt, Canadians are encouraged to learn more about the history of residential schools and their assimilation practices, drawing from Phyllis' experience in particular. For instance, many communities have held memorial walks, film screenings, and public lectures to raise awareness about Indigenous history.[14] Canadian school boards have begun to use this event to teach children about the historic system.[15]

Career

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Phyllis Webstad's journey as an activist and public speaker began in April 2013 when she shared her residential school story at the St. Joseph's Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion event in Williams Lake.[16] This marked the first time she had publicly recounted her experience, including the story of her orange shirt.[17][18]

Following this event, Webstad's story gained traction on social media, leading to the creation of Orange Shirt Day.[19] The day, observed annually on September 30th, aims to educate people about the impact of residential schools and honour the experiences of Indigenous children.[20] The date was chosen as it coincides with the time of year when Indigenous children were historically taken from their homes to residential schools. Orange Shirt Day has since become a significant movement in Canada.[21][22]

In 2021, the Canadian government elevated Orange Shirt Day to a statutory holiday, establishing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.[13]

An Every Child Matters sign on display.

Webstad serves as the ambassador for the Orange Shirt Society, a non-profit organization she founded to support reconciliation events and create awareness about the impacts of the residential school system.[23] The society operates with minimal staff, with Webstad at the helm and one part-time employee assisting with administration. The Orange Shirt Society offers programs that "teach the importance of respect and community."[24] Webstad often gives presentations and facilitates workshops.[25] Webstad also participates in the Orange Jersey Project, an initiative of the Orange Shirt Society led by her son.[26] The initiative, which is a collaboration with the Western Hockey League, aims to educate young people about Indigenous history and the value of reconciliation through sports.[27][26]

She is profiled in Sean Stiller's 2021 documentary film Returning Home.[28]

Awards

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In 2017 Webstad received the Community Impact Award from Thompson Rivers University and was recognized as a distinguished alumni. [29][30]

In September 2021, she won the First Nation Communities Read Award for best Indigenous literature for her book "Beyond The Orange Shirt Story."[31]

In December 2021, she won the 2021 Doris Anderson Woman of the Year award. [32][19]

In January 2022, Webstad was awarded the Governor General's Meritorious Service Cross in the civil division.[30][33] This award is given to Canadians for their exceptional deeds accomplished that bring honour to Canada.[34]

Education

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In the early 2000s, Webstad enrolled at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) in Merritt, British Columbia. NVIT is British Columbia's Indigenous public post-secondary institution, offering programs that are relevant to Indigenous learners and communities. At NVIT, Webstad earned a diploma in business administration.[35][30] Webstad continued her education at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, British Columbia. At TRU, she pursued and obtained a diploma in accounting. [35][30][36]

On October 6, 2023, Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia, awarded Webstad an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree. The conferral of this honorary degree took place during SFU's fall convocation ceremony.[37]

Personal life

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Early life

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Webstad was born on July 13, 1967, on the Dog Creek Reserve,[note 1] approximately 85 kilometers south of Williams Lake, British Columbia.[38]

Canoe Creek,[note 1] British Columbia

Webstad was primarily raised by her grandmother on the Dog Creek Reserve until she was ten. Their home lacked modern amenities such as electricity and running water. Despite these challenges, Webstad recalls a childhood rich in traditional practices and connection to the land.[18] The family lived off the land, maintaining three gardens in the valley and storing food in a cellar. Webstad participated in catching sockeye salmon along the Fraser River at night.[18] They would gut the fish, cut them up, and place them on drying racks in the morning. Berry picking was a common activity. During summers, Webstad's grandmother, the youngest of ten siblings, would take her and her cousin to camp along the Fraser River.[18]

Webstad's family has a multi-generational history with the residential school system.[39] Her mother and father were largely absent during her early years, leading to feelings of abandonment. Her grandmother, who didn't have a paying job, was her primary caregiver and taught her traditional ways of living. Webstad's great-grandmother, born in 1880, grew up under the oppressive Indian Act and believed that residential schools would provide opportunities for her descendants. Both Webstad's mother and grandmother attended St. Joseph's Mission Residential School for ten years each.[40]

Girls sewing at St. Joseph's Mission Residential School.

On September 30, 1973, at the age of six, Webstad was sent to St. Joseph's Mission Residential School, located just outside Williams Lake. Before leaving, Webstad's grandmother took her shopping for new clothes. Webstad chose a shiny orange shirt, which symbolized her excitement about school. On her first day, upon arrival, school authorities stripped Webstad of her clothes, including the new orange shirt, which was never returned. This traumatic experience would later become the inspiration for Orange Shirt Day.[41]

Webstad spent one year at St. Joseph's Mission, where she was bussed to a different school in Williams Lake for classes during the day and returned to the residential school at night. During her time at the school, Webstad had minimal contact with her family, as was common in the residential school system.[42] The residential school system aimed to assimilate Indigenous children, often forbidding them from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions.[41]

The following year, a school was established on the Dog Creek Reserve, allowing Webstad to return home and live with her grandmother. The experiences at the residential school later influenced her later work in reconciliation efforts.[43]

Webstad had her son while she was 14 years old. [44]

Adulthood

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Phyllis Webstad is married and resides in Williams Lake. She has one biological son as well as a step-son. Webstad is also a grandmother to five grandchildren.[18][44]

Webstad has noted that her grandkids are the first to have grown up with both of their parents.[45] Her eldest grandson has received certification to become a paramedic, an achievement she has publicly acknowledged.[46]

In interviews, Webstad has shared that her journey of healing and self-discovery has been ongoing.[47] She continues to advocate for the importance of mental health and well-being, both for herself and for other residential school survivors. [48]

Works

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Picture books

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  • Webstad, Phyllis (2018). The Orange Shirt Story. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9938694-9-5.[11][49][50]
  • Webstad, Phyllis (2019). Phyllis's Orange Shirt. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-989122-24-2.
  • Webstad, Phyllis (2022). With Our Orange Hearts. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-989122-97-6.
  • Webstad, Phyllis (2023). Every Child Matters. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-77854-016-5.
  • Webstad, Phyllis (2024). Today Is Orange Shirt Day. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-77854-036-3.

Story

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  • Webstad, Phyllis (2021). Beyond the Orange Shirt Story. Medicine Wheel Publishing. ISBN 978-1-989122-75-4.

Film

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d The Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation was established through the merger of the Canoe Creek Band and the Dog Creek Indian Band.

References

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  1. ^ Larsen, Karin (June 9, 2021). "Better Business Bureau warns of scammers falsely claiming to support Indigenous causes". CBC. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "'Profit from other people's pain': Residential school survivors warn of stolen designs on orange shirts". CTV News Vancouver Island. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Phyllis (Jack) Webstad's story in her own words..." OrangeShirtDay.org. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "The Story of Orange Shirt Day". OrangeShirtDay.org. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Orange Shirt Day: How a 6-year-old's 1st day at residential school inspired a movement". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Orange Shirt Day". Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Sinclair, Murray; Littlechild, Wilton; Wilson, Marie (2015). "The Survivors Speak" (PDF). Truth and Reconciliation Commission. pp. 39–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Residential school survivor whose orange shirt inspired a movement co-authors textbook". North Shore News. September 30, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "Phyllis Webstad reflects on inspiring Orange Shirt Day and starting a movement". CBC. September 25, 2020. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Small Victoria publisher makes Orange Shirt Day picture books when no one else would". Quill and Quire. September 27, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Robertson, David (June 10, 2021). "48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools". CBC. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Sinclair, Murray; Littlechild, Wilton; Wilson, Marie (2015). "The Survivors Speak" (PDF). Truth and Reconciliation Commission. pp. 39–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Bryden, Joan (June 3, 2021). "Royal assent given to bill creating national day for truth and reconciliation". CTVNews. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Reconciliation week: Orange Shirt Day arrives early at B.C. Legislature". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "AVRSB marks Orange Shirt Day to support First Nations students". The Chronicle Herald. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  16. ^ "Honour residential school survivors on Orange Shirt Day". Canada Energy Regulator Site. October 2, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Harper, Tyler (April 12, 2023). "'I'm still not comfortable with it': Orange Shirt Day founder reflects on decade of reconciliation work". The Williams Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e Charleyboy, Lisa (September 30, 2020). "Survivor: The story of Phyllis Webstad and Orange Shirt Day". Canadian Geographic. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Anderson, Charnel (November 30, 2021). "Why Phyllis Webstad Is A Doris Anderson Award Recipient". Chatelaine. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Lamb-Yorski, Monica (September 30, 2021). "Webstad, Sorley leaders for Truth and Reconciliation". The Williams Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Harper, Tyler (April 12, 2023). "'I'm still not comfortable with it': Orange Shirt Day founder reflects on decade of reconciliation work". Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Supernant, Kisha (October 17, 2023). "'Every child matters': One year after the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children were found in Kamloops". The Conversation. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  23. ^ Pounder, Megan (June 7, 2024). "Niagara College celebrates Indigenous students at awards banquet with Orange Shirt Society founder". ThoroldToday.ca. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  24. ^ ""The Orange Shirt Story" with Phyllis Webstad". UBC Learning Circle. August 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  25. ^ Lloyd, Ruth (September 25, 2023). "Indigenous artist teams up with Orange Shirt Day founder for new children's book". The Williams Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Casten, Darlene (February 24, 2024). "Beyond Local: Orange Shirt Day founder tirelessly helps others learn about the atrocities of residential schools". St. Albert Gazette. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Rose, Jason La; Brickman, Katie; Coulter, Shannon; Manitoba, Ezra Ginsburg via Hockey; Brunswick, Kelsey Pye via Hockey New (September 30, 2023). "The importance of orange". Hockey Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Justin Bell, "EIFF Review: Returning Home" Archived October 8, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Edmonton Journal, October 1, 2021.
  29. ^ "2017 Distinguished Alumni announced – TRU Newsroom". inside.tru.ca. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d "Ms. Phyllis Webstad". ontariotechu.ca. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  31. ^ "Phyllis Webstad, Bridget George win First Nation Communities Read Awards for best Indigenous literature". CBC. September 30, 2021. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  32. ^ Halushak, Maureen (November 30, 2021). "Meet Chatelaine's 2021 Doris Anderson Award Recipients". Chatelaine. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada (January 29, 2022). "Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 156, Number 5: GOVERNMENT HOUSE". canadagazette.gc.ca. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  34. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor (September 21, 2017). "The Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division)". The Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  35. ^ a b admin. "Phyllis' Story". Orange Shirt Society. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "Celebration and reconciliation go hand-in-hand on Orange Shirt Day – TRU Newsroom". inside.tru.ca. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  37. ^ McSheffrey, Elizabeth (October 6, 2023). "Orange Shirt Day founder 'so honoured to be honoured' with degree from SFU". Global News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  38. ^ "Phyllis' Story". Orange Shirt Society. November 9, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  39. ^ Contributed content (September 30, 2023). "Founder of Orange Shirt Day details her healing journey". NNSL Media. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  40. ^ "Phyllis Webstad wore an orange shirt to residential school. Telling the story helped her heal". CBC. September 21, 2023. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  41. ^ a b Rudisuela, Jolene (October 24, 2018). "Three generations of trauma: Phyllis Webstad shares experience of residential schooling". Comox Valley Record. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  42. ^ Alleyne, Ainara (June 26, 2024). "Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad answers kids' questions". CBC Kids News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  43. ^ Harper, Tyler (April 12, 2023). "'I'm still not comfortable with it': Orange Shirt Day founder reflects on decade of reconciliation work". Vancouver Island Free Daily. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  44. ^ a b Lamb-Yorski, Monica (June 10, 2021). "OUR HOMETOWN: Truth and reconciliation champion". The Williams Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  45. ^ "29 must-read books for children and teens by Indigenous writers, curated by Phyllis Webstad". CBC. May 30, 2024. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  46. ^ "Phyllis Webstad Tirelessly Helps Others Learn About The Atrocities Of The Indian Residential Schools". Penticton Herald. February 20, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  47. ^ Shaw, Melissa (October 17, 2023). "Reflections from SFU honorary degree recipient & Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad". SFU News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  48. ^ "Orange Shirt Day 'not approved' for military members honouring residential school survivors". CBC. July 5, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  49. ^ Ellis, Danika (June 4, 2021). "Picture Books To Teach Children About Residential Schools". BOOK RIOT. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  50. ^ "Online educational activities kick off Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival". ottawacitizen. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
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