Indigenous Resources: Orange Shirt Day

Shi-shi-etko gathers together many of the things of nature and places them into her bag of memories so that she will never forget her people and land as she prepares to go many miles away to the required residential school.

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language – Cree – he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.

Twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack, misnamed Charlie by his teachers, died on October 22, 1966, trying to escape residential school and return to his family. Acknowledging a dark part of Canada’s history — the mistreatment of Indigenous children and families by the residential school system — the story of Chanie Wenjack’s tragic death compels all Canadians to make peace with the truth of the past. Chanie’s story is Canada’s story. - See more at: http://bookcentre.ca/news/orange-shirt-day-reading-list#sthash.n95Gcjsc.dpuf

Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous people has suffered as a result of both the residential school system and the lack of understanding of the historical and current impact of those schools. Healing and repairing that relationship requires education, awareness and increased understanding of the legacy and the impacts still being felt by survivors and their families. Guided by acclaimed Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith, readers will learn about the lives of survivors and listen to allies who are putting the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into action. - See more at: http://bookcentre.ca/news/orange-shirt-day-reading-list#sthash.n95Gcjsc.dpuf

This is a simple, gentle story about two Aboriginal brothers who take their grandfather to see
their school. Grandfather had gone to residential school and has unhappy memories. These
13 children love their school and grandfather feels much better after he visits and sees that his
grandsons are treated well and are learning about their Aboriginal culture.

This story provides a perfect entry place for teaching very young students about Orange Shirt
Day, residential schools and reconciliation. However, rather than talking directly about
residential schools and their impact, Monique Gray Smith has chosen to focus on describing ways we can move forward “in the spirit of reconciliation” (see dedication) by supporting and caring for each other. Her words are positive, heart warming, and gentle. The illustrations are childlike, colourful and engaging. Note how the characters lips are often hearts and almost every picture includes nature (even the wallpaper has flowers or leaves!). You Hold Me Up is a beautifully written story that helps children understand the importance of kindness, respect and empathy. As Gray Smith says, “it is a book about love, building relationships and fostering empathy “(see Author’s Note at the back of the book). While the story is aimed at our youngest students, it could be used with older students.

This story about a young Inuit girl who goes to residential school provides an age appropriate
introduction to what residential schools were like. The story also gives another opportunity to
discuss symbolism except here, instead of an orange shirt, we have red stockings.

The eight year old protagonist Margaret Pokiak longs to learn how to read and pressures her father to allow her to go to school. Finally giving in he allows her to make the trek to the local residential school. This book is a powerful exploration of the impact of the residential school system.

A memoir in which the author recalls her experiences as a ten-year-old girl returning home to her family in the Arctic after two years at a residential school, discussing her struggles to relearn the language, stories, and ways of her Inuvialuit people.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated story aimed at younger audiences; however, it could
easily be used from grade two to grade seven. For older students, literary elements could be a
secondary focus.