Join the t-shirt decorating challenge
In honour of Orange Shirt Day, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Indigenous Health, NH have partnered to host a t-shirt decorating challenge!
Take part in the t-shirt decorating challenge by decorating a t-shirt of your choice and reflect on what Orange Shirt Day means to you. Make sure that you include the phrase “Every Child Matters” in your design.
Send us a photo of your completed design from September 15, 2020 to October 1, 2020 and you’ll be entered to win one of three prize packs including a children’s book from the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society called “Spirit Bear and Children Make History,” along with a hand-made cloth face-mask. Be sure to include a brief note on what Orange Shirt Day means to you.
We’ll be drawing one winner from each of the Northeast, Northwest, and Interior of the Northern Health region.
What is Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is a day to remember, to witness, and to honour the healing journey of residential-school survivors and their families, and to demonstrate a commitment to processes of reconciliation.
The day celebrates the resilience of Indigenous Peoples and communities and provides an opportunity for all people in Canada to engage in discussions or provide acknowledgement and support in addressing the brutal legacy of the residential school system.
Phyllis’ story reminds us everyday of the children that were taken from their families and sent to residential schools. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year.
Residential schools are a dark part of Canadian history and learning about them can be hard for many people. As hard as it may be for some to learn about residential schools and our shared colonial history, it’s critical to acknowledge and recognize these topics in a spirit of reconciliation and for future generations of children.
How to enter the Orange Shirt Day t-shirt decorating challenge
- Decorate a t-shirt of your choice* to reflect what Orange Shirt Day Means to you. Be sure to use the phrase “Every Child Matters” somewhere on your shirt.
- Send us a photo of your shirt and explain how your design reflects what Orange Shirt Day means to you. Send your photos to: indigenous.health@northernhealth.ca. Please include the name of your community so we know what Northern Health region you’re in.
Get all the Orange Shirt Day Contest details here.
*Be creative! If you don’t have access to the supplies to decorate a t-shirt that’s okay. There are many other creative ways you can show how you would decorate your Orange Shirt Day shirt. You can illustrate how your shirt would look using art supplies and paper, try your hand at a digital rendering, and more!