A new local initiative hopes to use the arts to lead to a deeper understanding in the community about the history and legacy of residential schools  and  ask qustions about what settler responsibility to reconciliation looks like.

Led by artist Allison Billings, the intent is to create a community-created installation of orange “shirts”.

In 1973, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad was sent to the Mission Residential School when she was six years old. Her family did not have very much money, but her grandmother bought her a very special new orange shirt to wear to school.

“When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.”

Orange Shirt Day/September 30 has been an annual event since 2013. In July of 2021, the Canadian Government declared September 30 the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, based on a recommendation made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015.

For our local community event, “The orange “shirts” can be made out of any material, in any size. The intent is to get people to learn about Orange Shirt Day and participate in an accessible activity that underscores a commitment to learning. It is the “Truth” part of Truth and Reconciliation”, says Billings.

The project hopes that teachers will consider creating orange shirts with their classes and will facilitate pick up and drop off of the “shirts” to and from schools and the Community Incubator at 279 10th Street East in Owen Sound.

“While we are first and foremost centering learning about residential schools, we are also interested in what our accountability to Reconciliation looks like. We are inviting area artists to submit work that explores the dark legacy of the residential school system and what we must do as individuals who also belong to organizations and elect government to be truly accountable to Reconciliation.” Artists must email an intent to exhibit by September 20 and submit their work by September 25.

The exhibition will be held September 27 - October 10 at 279, 10th Street East, Owen Sound at the Community Incubator. “I am really hoping that we receive a volume of submissions that indicates this community is responsive and committed to the aims of Truth and Reconciliation and very grateful that we have been provided a space to launch this project”, says Billings.

Further details about how to participate by either making an orange shirt, submitting artwork or visiting the Exhibition can be found on the Orange Shirt Project OS Facebook page or contact Allison Billings at [email protected]