At M’akola we are big supporters of Orange Shirt Day and are happy to support the third annual Orange Shirt Day, September 30, 2016
Orange Shirt Day is a day of recognition of the students in Canada who attended residential schools. It was inspired by the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad in Williams Lake. Phyllis’ story recounts buying a new orange shirt for the first day of school at age six in 1973. The school staff took her shirt away from her and she never wore it or saw it again. People across Canada wear orange shirts in support of Phyllis and all the other residential school students in British Columbia and across Canada.
As an Aboriginal organization we encourage all of our staff to participate in Orange Shirt Day each September 30 and continue to grow our recognition of this day annually.
It is very important for our organization and others to acknowledge the history of Aboriginal people in British Columbia and across Canada. Incorporating Orange Shirt Day into our workplace is another opportunity for M’akola to bring First Nations and Aboriginal rights, history and culture into the conversation.
We provide affordable housing to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. We also provide employment to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal employees. Orange Shirt Day is a day to be recognized by each and every employee at M’akola regardless of their heritage.
