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Learn MoreOrange Shirt Day

Phyllis Webstad Residential School Survivor + Author + Changemaker

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Residential School Survivor and author, Phyllis Webstad, is renowned worldwide as one of the leading voices behind the global Orange Shirt Day movement. A recent recipient of the Thompson Rivers University Distinguished Alumni Award and the Doris Anderson Award, an award given to tenacious women making a difference in today's world, Webstad has been recognized internationally for her unprecedented impact on local, provincial, national, and global communities through the sharing of her orange shirt story.

Phyllis Webstad is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). A descendant of mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage, Webstad was born in Dog Creek. Her resilience, courage, and tremendous vulnerability have inspired countless survivors across Turtle Island to begin sharing their truth as well, and has awoken many Canadians to our shared colonial history. 

Webstad lived here on the Dog Creek reserve alongside her grandmother, until she was removed from her home at just 6 years old and taken to St. Joseph Mission Residential School in 1973. With all the excitement and innocence of a young child preparing for the first day of school, Webstad went out to buy a beautiful new orange shirt. But the very moment she arrived at school that first morning, her orange shirt was stripped from her, never to be seen or worn again.

Ever since that day, the colour orange has reminded Webstad of this experience and how there had never been any consideration for the children's feelings or well-being at these ‘schools’. It wasn’t until May 2013 that Webstad would tell the world her story for the first time at the St. Joseph Mission Commemoration Project. This day marked a new beginning for Webstad, one that would see her go on to found the Orange Shirt Society and play an instrumental role in collaboration with the TRC to have September 30th officially recognized as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Today, Webstad lives in Williams Lake, BC. with her husband, children, and is the loving grandmother to five beautiful grandbabies. To this day, Webstad continues to speak and educate around the globe to elevate the voices and memories of Residential School Survivors everywhere.

 

 

  • The Orange Shirt Story

    The Orange Shirt Story: A History of the Residential School Legacy 

    Since 2013, Phyllis Webstad has opened her heart to raise awareness about the traumatic and long-lasting impacts of the Residential School System. Through resiliency, courage, and a tremendous amount of vulnerability Webstad shares the story of her first day arriving at St. Joseph's Mission Residential School, and how her life from that day forward would never be the same. Devastatingly true, emotional, and raw this presentation is sure to open your heart and mind and inspire change for a better future.

    In this presentation audiences will learn about… 

    • The rich cultural histories of Indigenous Peoples in Canada prior to colonial contact
    • The intergenerational cycles of trauma that stemmed from Residential Schools and continue to impact Indigenous Peoples today
    • The history and significance of the Orange Shirt Day movement and how you can get involved

  • Article

    CBC: Orange Shirt Day Founder Writes Children's Book About Residential School Experience

Phyllis Webstad is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). A descendant of mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage, Webstad was born in Dog Creek. Her resilience, courage, and tremendous vulnerability have inspired countless survivors across Turtle Island to begin sharing their truth as well, and has awoken many Canadians to our shared colonial history. 

Webstad lived here on the Dog Creek reserve alongside her grandmother, until she was removed from her home at just 6 years old and taken to St. Joseph Mission Residential School in 1973. With all the excitement and innocence of a young child preparing for the first day of school, Webstad went out to buy a beautiful new orange shirt. But the very moment she arrived at school that first morning, her orange shirt was stripped from her, never to be seen or worn again.

Ever since that day, the colour orange has reminded Webstad of this experience and how there had never been any consideration for the children's feelings or well-being at these ‘schools’. It wasn’t until May 2013 that Webstad would tell the world her story for the first time at the St. Joseph Mission Commemoration Project. This day marked a new beginning for Webstad, one that would see her go on to found the Orange Shirt Society and play an instrumental role in collaboration with the TRC to have September 30th officially recognized as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Today, Webstad lives in Williams Lake, BC. with her husband, children, and is the loving grandmother to five beautiful grandbabies. To this day, Webstad continues to speak and educate around the globe to elevate the voices and memories of Residential School Survivors everywhere.

 

 

Speaker Summary

Location: Canada

Language: English

Website: Click Here

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