On September 30, Maȟpíya Lúta students and staff once again wore bright orange shirts to honor Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed in Boarding and Residential schools. The tradition—observed here for many years—carries a special resonance on our campus, since our organization was originally established as Holy Rosary Mission, a former boarding school.
This year, our Lakota Language Resource Center designed and printed a shirt for every student, ensuring that our whole community could participate. The day began with a moving remembrance at the elementary school, where students offered prayer songs and welcomed Cecelia Fire Thunder, Director of our Truth and Healing Initiative, who shared her personal experience as a Holy Rosary Mission boarding school student.
The orange shirt itself comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) woman from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation in British Columbia, whose brand-new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. Her story symbolizes the loss of culture, language, and identity experienced by thousands of children.
Why We Wear Orange
-To support survivors and their families
-To remember and honor the children who never came home
-To commit to reconciliation, ensuring that every child matters
As a community, we stand together to learn, reflect, and honor the past, while committing to a future of respect and solidarity.
To learn more about our Truth and Healing Initiative, please visit: https://mahpiyaluta.org/the-missions/initiatives/truth-and-healing/
To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, visit: https://orangeshirtday.org/
🧡 Every Child Matters 🧡