Orange Shirt Day - National Day of Truth + Reconciliation
On September 30th we observe Orange Shirt Day, a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion in May 2013 where former students and their families gathered to commemorate and heal from their experiences in the residential school system. Here, Phyllis Webstad told the story of her first day of residential school where they took away her new orange shirt- marking the origins of Orange Shirt Day.
This day offers an opportunity for Indigenous people impacted by the residential school system to witness and honour their experiences. It is also a day for settlers to not only reflect on this truth, but take action, learn how we can commit to decolonization, and encourage others to do the same. It is a time for us to acknowledge the barriers to all forms of justice that Indigenous people face, including reproductive justice.
Sister Song defines the term “reproductive justice” as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities”. These principles have existed in Indigenous communities long before it had a name, in traditional knowledge and practices around reproductive health.
In the infographic titled Abortion Access and Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Action Canada SHR, 2021), Dr. Renée Monchalin and Willow Paul of University of Victoria note how land-based and traditional medicines used to facilitate safe abortions were deemed “the devil’s work” and forced underground upon colonization. They also note the teaching of the colonial gender binary in Residential Schools, and the continued exclusion of intersectional Indigenous voices in the mainstream reproductive justice movement. This has created many unique barriers for Indigenous people to access safe and culturally appropriate reproductive health care and continues to threaten the reproductive health and safety of Indigenous people in Canada and across Turtle Island.
These barriers are addressed in calls to action 18 and 22 under the “Health” Section of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada:
18. “We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people as identified in international law, constitutional law, and under the Treaties.”
22. “We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.”
3 out of the 6 Calls to Action specifically relating to Indigenous health are in progress (projects are underway), and 3 have been started (projects proposed). None have yet been completed. CBC has developed a tracking tool to monitor where the federal government is at in terms of implementing each of these 94 calls - you can track the progress in real time here: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-single/beyond-94.
As settlers, we must take this responsibility of educating ourselves and actively celebrate, connect with, support, and follow the lead of Indigenous activists and organizations wherever we are, as well as get to know the specific ways to support in our communities! While taking these actions are essential to reproductive justice and the health, safety, and autonomy of Indigenous people, it does not excuse or reconcile past, present or future injustices. Actively working to decolonize reproductive justice spaces is not and should not be comfortable.
Learn about whose land you are on and the treaties made in your area, the origins of Orange Shirt Day, the history of residential schools, and ongoing decolonization and land back efforts in your communities. Read and advocate for the implementation of the 94 Calls to Action by the TRC, and how you can embody these calls to action in your everyday life.
See the list below for more information and resources.
Self-Education
Settlers Take Action - On Canada Project
"Beyond 94: Monitoring progress on the 94 Calls to Action" - CBC News
"The Colonial Complications of Indigenous Reproductive Choice (ep 289)" - MEDIA INDIGENA Podcast
"Abortion Access and Indigenous Peoples in Canada" - Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Support and Resources for Indigenous Folks
Indian Residential School Survivor Society
Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line
1866-925-4419
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour
Native Women's Resource Centre
Written By: Margret Taylor