Every Child Matters-Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30, 2024

Orange Shirt Day is a day of remembrance and reflection that honors the Indigenous children who were taken from their families and sent to residential schools in the United States and Canada. September 30, 2024 is an important day to be familiar with. Across both the United States and Canada, it is a day of reflection and commemoration, known as the National Day of Remembrance or Orange Shirt Day. On September 30th, you are invited to celebrate that every child matters by wearing your orange shirt, reading one of the suggested books, or in your own private way, seeing each child as a unique wonderful human being.

The origin of Orange Shirt Day comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a survivor of residential schools, who recalls having her new orange shirt—gifted by her grandmother—taken away from her on her first day at school. The purpose of Orange Shirt Day is to provide education, honor indigenous people, and recognize their sovereignty and cultural resilience.

The following teacher resources have been vetted by the Native American Curriculum Initiative (NACI) through the BYU Arts Partnership, housed within CITES. This toolkit has been thoughtfully created for you.

• Native American Curriculum Initiative Tool Kit  

The first section is meant for greater teacher understanding of the history of boarding schools, Orange Shirt Day, and its significance to healing.

The lesson plans created in the second section are written for you to choose which lessons would be appropriate for your age group and specifically your class. The books, Fall In Line, Holden; When We Were Alone; and Walk the Line are used to facilitate the learning process. Each lesson is open to modification based on the learning goals and desired outcomes.

What Can We Do?

• Wear an orange shirt
• Read a children’s book with your class
• Use culturally responsive practices, helping every child feel they belong.
•  Look through NACI’s Every Child Matters Tool Kit
• Share one of the NACI Orange Shirt Day lessons:
  • Fall In Line Holden – Creative Vocal Play
  • Fall in Line Holden – Dance and Movement
  • Walk the Line – Visual Arts
  • Walk the Line
• For upper grades and secondary students, view the slideshow about The 8 Sovereign Nations in Utah 

Additional Information about Orange Shirt Day in this Slideshow