Within Mountain View School Division, this year for the first time, September 30th will be observed as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.
Since 2013, September 30th has been acknowledged as Orange Shirt Day across Canada. This movement was created by residential school survivor Phyllis (Jack) Webstad to remember Indigenous children taken from their parents and communities and placed within residential schools. Orange was the color of Ms. Webstad’s shirt on her first day of residential school. It was a shirt that was taken from her and never returned and now symbolizes how Indigenous students lost their cultural identity within Canada’s residential school policy.
As we have in the past, Grandview School K-12 will take part in Orange Shirt Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange when they come to school on September 29, 2021. Throughout our school year we will be offering students the opportunity to smudge within the school environment, beginning on September 29; to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A permission form is available
here and MVSD procedures on smudging can be found
here.
Mountain View School Division acknowledges that the residential school legacy reflects historical and current issues within our society including intergenerational trauma. This awareness creates an opportunity for productive dialogue around reconciliation and allyship with Indigenous communities in Canada. Mountain View School Division recognizes and honours the important collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples within our communities.