Photo credit: Chris Robert/Unsplash
Orange Shirt Day, first observed in 2013 and recognized federally in 2021 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, honours the children who never returned home from residential schools, along with survivors, families and communities affected by the system.
Inspired by author and activist Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of residential school at the age of six, the orange shirts and clothing have become symbols of remembrance and support.
The commemorations have also extended into the brand sphere. This year, clothiers and retailers such as Aritzia, Canadian Tire and London Drugs, among others, partnered with the Orange Shirt Society to sell “Every Child Matters” apparel and donate proceeds to the non-profit, which raises awareness of residential school effects and supports reconciliation.
Other companies have launched their own initiatives, including Giant Tiger, which launched the fourth year of its partnership with Indspire last month with a T-shirt designed by two-spirit Ojibwe artist Patrick Hunter. Proceeds are going toward the national Indigenous charity’s Learning from the Past post-secondary bursary fund.
The efforts were part of a broader series of activations across sectors to mark Sept. 30, as brands found ways to use their platforms to back Indigenous causes.
Cheekbone propels Indigenous education on Queen West
Cheekbone Beauty took its show on the road on Tuesday for the “For Future Generations Sip & Shop” pop-up at the Celi Showroom in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood.
The event featured an acoustic performance by Métis-Cree artist Ashley Ghostkeeper, a meet and greet with AFC Toronto soccer players Ashley Cathro, Aoi Kizaki, Jade Kovacevic, Sonia Walk and Hong Hye-Ji and product demos with professional make-up artists.
The pop-up was staged as part of the Indigenous-owned beauty brand’s efforts to help Indigenous students pursue their post-secondary aspirations through the For Future Generations Indigenous Youth Scholarship Fund.
All proceeds from the event, along with 100% of the proceeds from in-store and online sales of the Unify Complexion Multi Pencil on the day, will go toward Cheekbone’s goal of supporting 20 Indigenous post-secondary scholarships.
Jennifer Harper founded Cheekbone in St. Catharines, Ont., in 2016 as part of her vision to create an Indigenous-owned and founded company after researching her roots and her grandmother’s experiences in the residential-school system.
In June, Cheekbone launched the Powwow Kit, a four-piece collection of its best-selling products housed in collector’s edition packaging that features the work of Cree artist Kent Monkman.
Tims renews orange-donut drive
Tim Hortons once again offered its orange-sprinkle donut as part of a fundraising campaign in support of a number of Indigenous organizations.
Launched by a group of Indigenous Tim Hortons owners in 2021, the orange-donut LTO had raised more than $4.4 million going into this year’s activation.
One-hundred per cent of proceeds from Tuesday’s orange-donut sales are being donated to the Orange Shirt Society, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Ulnooweg Education Centre and the New Pathways Foundation in Quebec.
“Our partnership with Tim Hortons’ Orange Sprinkle Donut campaign helps us create spaces where Indigenous youth can grow together,” said Chris Googoo, chief operating officer of Ulnooweg Education Centre in Halifax.
Canada Post stamps commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day
On Monday, Canada Post released a set of stamps featuring the Bentwood Box, which was created by Coast Salish artist Luke Marston for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2009.
Traditional to Canada’s Northwest Coast, Marston’s Bentwood Box travelled to the TRC’s eight national events in 2009 and was filled with personal items along the way that symbolized the journey toward healing. The master carver from the Stz’uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island crafted the box from a single piece of sacred old-growth red cedar, according to a news release.
The three stamp designs (sold in a booklet of six) each feature a side of the Bentwood Box Each and reflect the experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children in residential school.
The cover and booklet also show the Thunderbird from the back of the box, which symbolizes Indigenous voices in reconciliation.
Canada Post partnered with the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation for the fourth issue in the stamp series.
