Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
September 26, 2026

One Day

In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Forum Art Centre is hosting a free beading workshop with self-taught Mixed Anishinaabekwe Beader, Savanna Derksen of Heartberry Beadwork.

In this two-hour workshop participants will learn to make a beaded pin of an orange t-shirt. A great opportunity to learn more about an Indigenous art form while learning the importance of Orange Shirt Day. All supplies will be provided with hands on instruction.

• Light snacks, coffee and tea provided
• Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
• No child minding available

Note: This workshop is open to all skill levels.

Workshop Fee: $0

History of Orange Shirt Day (now called National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)

Orange Shirt Day was founded by Northern Secwepemc author and activist Phyllis Webstad in 2013, in honour of her experience of the first day at residential school at six years old. She was stripped of her new orange t-shirt given to her by her grandmother, which was never returned. The orange shirt represents the efforts made by the residential school system to deny children their Indigenous identity.

History of Residential Schools in Canada

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) is held on September 30^th, signifying the time of year Indigenous children were taken from their homes and forced to attend residential schools. Residential schools for Indigenous children in Canada were government funded but religious church run-institutions. They existed as far back as the 17^th century, and the formal government enforced system persisted for over 150-years between the 19^th and 20^th centuries. The last residential school in Canada officially closing in 1997. It is estimated that at least 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children attended residential schools during this period.

The schools were key to the colonialism imposed on Indigenous peoples as part of a larger group of assimilation efforts aimed to destroy the rich and diverse cultures, languages, identities, knowledge systems, and histories of Indigenous peoples. Children were often subjected to harsh discipline, malnutrition, starvation, poor healthcare, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and the violent suppression of their cultures and languages. Thousands of children died from attending residential schools, and the burial sites of many have yet to be found. The intergenerational effects of these centuries of trauma have profound impacts on Indigenous communities.

It is important to know that from the very beginning of these schools, there were objections from children, families and Indigenous leaders. Some children fought against the system by refusing to let go of their languages and identities, some fled the schools trying to return home, and some did not make it home. The resilient advocacy of survivors, for recognition, reparations and accountability from the governments and churches responsible, lead to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, official apologies by the Canadian government, and the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008 to 2015). The result of the TRC was the 94 Calls to Action which covers the areas of Child and Youth Welfare, Language and Culture, Health, Justice in the Legal System, History and Commemoration, and Reconciliation. Government efforts to respond to the calls to action are ongoing.

Resources:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

Orange Shirt Society

Government of Canada – The Residential School System

Government of Canada – Delivering on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action