x̄ʷenúxʷ: child. orange shirt day beadwork
orange shirt day or "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation" is coming up on sept 30. it is a stat holiday in so called canada. it is a day to acknowledge the lasting devastating legacies that residential schools have on us all.
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake bc canada in 2013.
It grew out of a survivor named Phyllis’s account of having her shiny new orange shirt taken on her first day at residential school, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion going on the horrific legacies of residential schools. (this info gathered from orangeshirtday.com)
to me, orange shirt day is always fraught with hard emotions and anger. on this day and every day i carry the memories and ties to my Ancestors and family members who did and did not survive residential schools.
my hope is for these earrings to go to people who have direct experiences with these feelings, or to active and involved allies who use their privileges to speak up in rooms we aren't invited to.
details on this pair: this pair hangs about 3.8 inches, made with beautiful facet cut charlotte beads for extra sparkle.