BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey recognized Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, yesterday, Thursday, Sept. 30.  

Orange Shirt Day honors indigenous children who were lost at residential and boarding schools. It also honors the legacy of survivors. For over a century thousands of indigenous children were removed from their communities and placed in residential schools where they were shamed and abused for their identities and heritage.  

Orange Shirt day originated in 2013 from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, from the Stswecem'c Sgat'tem First Nation. In 1973, on her first day at St. Joseph's Mission (SJM) Residential School in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Webstad proudly wore a shiny new orange shirt given to her by her grandmother. Upon her arrival at the school, the shirt was immediately taken away from her, a six-year old girl, marking the beginning of Webstad's long separation form her family and community and from her culture and language.   

Webstad is one of thousands of residential school survivor stories.  

The annual Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30, opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind.  

This year also marks the first observance of a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, which commemorates the loss of generations and to acknowledge the ongoing trauma experienced by residential school survivors, their families and their communities.

September 30 was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.  

To mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Suffolk women's hockey wore orange shirts, like Webstad's, with the saying "Every Child Matters," the official tagline of the day, which reminds everyone that people's cultural experiences are important.  

In addition to their wardrobe, the Rams took part in a social media campaign, expressing their thoughts on why Orange Shirt Day is so important, as well as a workout featuring 6,600 reps to recognize the children known to have died in residential schools. 

The initiative is one of many community outreach projects done by Taylor Wasylk's squad leading up to the 2021-22 campaign. Senior Jesse Kennedy, a member of the Oneida Indian Nation, spearheaded the Rams' involvement in the Orange Shirt Campaign.  

Wasylk and the Rams are set to drop the puck on their fourth campaign Friday, Oct. 29 against Plymouth State at 6 p.m. at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink. 

Women's Hockey Commemorates Orange Shirt Day