Written by Britney McCarthy, MSW Intern, University at Buffalo School of Social Work
September is a time to create space for remembrance, learning, and reflection as we recognize the history and lasting impacts of residential and boarding schools on Indigenous children, families, and communities.
History of Every Child Matters and Orange Shirt Day
The orange shirt has become a powerful symbol of remembrance and hope through the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) woman and residential school survivor.
In 1973, the Phyllis was six years old, she attended St. Josephs Mission Residential School in British Columbia. Her grandmother had purchased a new orange shirt for her first day of school. When Phyllis arrived, the shirt was taken from her and she never received it back.
Years later, Phyllis shared her experience, and her story became the foundation for Orange Shirt Day/ Every Child Matters, an Indigenous-led, survivor founded movement dedicated to remembering the children who never came home, honoring Survivors and their families, and creating space for truth, learning, healing, and reconciliation.
Why We Wear Orange
The orange shirt represents something much bigger than a piece of clothing. It’s a reminder that children matter. Their identities matter. Their family’s matter. Their cultures matter. Their voices MATTER!
For the Haudenosaunee, the People of the Longhouse, and Indigenous nations across Turtle Island, September 30th can provide an opportunity for remembrance, learning, reflection, and community connection. Wearing orange can help create greater awareness of Indigenous histories and lived experience, while encouraging continued conversations about truth, healing, and the importance of protecting the well-being, identity, culture, and connections of future generations.
These conversations can hold difficult histories while also making room for strength, resilience, healing, hope, and the continued presence of Indigenous peoples and communities.
Childhood Trauma
Trauma doesn’t always end with the person who experienced it. The effects of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) can influence a child’s development, relationships, sense of safety, and ability to cope with stress. Although ACE’s do not define someone it is just and indicator of what someone has experienced. When trauma is experience across families and generations, it effects can continue to shape communities. At the same time, trauma does not define a person, family, or a community. Children can heal and thrive when they are surrounded by safe, stable, nurturing, relationships, supportive families, cultural connection, and communities that create opportunities for belonging and hope.
For Indigenous communities, healing can also mean reconnecting with the things that systems of assimilation attempted to separate children from such as family, language, culture, community, identity, traditional teachings, and connection to one another. Healing can take many forms, and can be strengthened through community-led efforts that support children and families while also creating space for culture, connection, and resilience.
Our Community
Here in Niagara County and Western New York, these conversations are especially meaningful. Our region is home to the Haudenosaunee communities and organizations working to support Indigenous families and strengthen communities. The Seven Dancers Coalition, including its Lockport office, works to uplift Indigenous families and communities through education, traditional values, advocacy, and healing.
The Niagara Falls community also continues to recognize Every Child Matters locally. On September 30th, 2026 the City of Niagara Falls will hold Every Child Matters flag raising and lowering ceremony as part of its recognition of National day for Truth and Reconciliation.
These local efforts remind us that remembrance is not only about looking backward. It’s also what we choose to carry forward.
- We can carry forward the strength of our ancestors.
- We can protect the children who are here today.
- We can create spaces where children feel safe, valued, connected, and heard.
- We can support families and communities in healing.
- And we can work toward a future where children know that their identity, culture, family, and voices matter.
We invite our community to:
- Learn about the history and lasting impacts of residential and boarding schools.
- Listen to the voices and experiences of Survivors and Indigenous communities.
- Remember the children and families whose lives were affected.
- Reflect on the importance of family, culture, identity, connection, and belonging.
- Learn about the ways historical and childhood trauma can affect individuals, families, and communities.
- Support safe, stable, nurturing environments where children can heal and thrive.
- Support conversations that foster understanding, respect, healing, resilience, and hope.
- Continue learning about and supporting Indigenous-led efforts within our local communities.
Additional Resources:
Haudenosaunee Coalition – Services provided by Seven Dancers Coalition
