September 30th, 2023 marks the 10th year of Orange Shirt Day (OSD). How will you honour this significant moment in history?
The International Indigenous Speakers Bureau and Digital Human Library are inviting people from around the world to listen and learn from Phyllis’s Webstad’s Orange Shirt story during our #OSD10for10 Campaign. As the leading voice behind an emerging global movement, Phyllis Webstad has educated and impacted the lives of thousands around the world.
Educational organizations will also have the opportunity to hear stories from Joseph Naytowhow, a gifted Plains/Woodland Cree (nehiyaw) singer/songwriter, storyteller, actor, and residential school survivor from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band in Saskatchewan.
It’s time we honour residential school survivors and #BreakTheSilence. We invite you to join us on a journey of reconciliACTION…
#OSD10for10 Campaign
Honour Residential School Survivors
Phyllis Webstad
Phyllis Webstad is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She comes from mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage, was born in Dog Creek, and lives in Williams Lake, BC. Today, Phyllis is married, has one son, a stepson and five grandchildren. She is the Founder and Ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society, and tours the country telling her story and raising awareness about the impacts of the residential school system. She has now published two books, the “Orange Shirt Story” and “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt” for younger children.
In 2017 Phyllis received the TRU Distinguished Alumni Award for her unprecedented impact on local, provincial, national and international communities through the sharing of her orange shirt story.
In honour of the 10 year mark of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad shares the Orange Shirt Day origin story by reliving what it was like growing up in an Indigenous community and attending a residential school as a third generation residential school survivor.
Suggested Audience: Ages 7-100+
Viewing Time: 58 minutes
Joseph Naytowhow
Knowledge keeper, Storyteller, Actor, Musician and Residential School Survivor Joseph Naytowhow is a muti-talented Plains/Woodland Cree (nehiyaw) from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band in Saskatchewan. Joseph is a highly regarded Indigenous Advisor for many Universities, organizations and communities throughout Canada. Through his unique style of Cree/English storytelling, Joseph bridges cultures, educating young and old on how to respect and honour traditional practices and beliefs in an ever changing modern world.
On this 10 year mark of Orange Shirt Day, honour Joseph Naytowhow by learning from his experiences as a residential school survivor and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of Orange Shirt Day and why this day is important to him.
Suggested Audience: Ages 7-100+
Viewing Time: 22 minutes
Get Involved
Higher Education Institutions
Higher Education Institutions committed to reconciliation can make Phyllis Webstad’s story and Joseph Naytowhow’s story available to select faculties, the entire campus, as well as offer in-person screenings.
Contact us to learn more and join the journey: ellie.nguyen@digitalhumanlibrary.com
K12 School Districts
Districts interested in taking a step forward on their reconciliation journey can honour residential school survivors by making Phyllis Webstad’s story and Joseph Naytowhow’s story available for all staff and students.
Contact us to learn more and join the journey: trevor.hammer@digitalhumanlibrary.com
K12 Schools
Schools on a reconciliation journey have the opportunity to make Phyllis Webstad’s story and Joseph Naytowhow’s story available for all staff and students. Access these videos directly from our website.
Public Libraries and Corporations
Please visit digitalhumanlibrary.com/osd to learn more about how you can contribute to reconciliation in honour of residential school survivors.
Learn More and Get Involved
Visit digitalhumanlibrary.com/osd to learn more about the #OSD10for10 Campaign and take reconciliACTION today!
Download and distribute the OSD Campaign Poster for Education Institutions:
About the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau
The International Indigenous Speakers Bureau (IISB) is about creating opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to connect and build bridges by providing access to a wealth of Indigenous Speakers around the world.
Phyllis Webstad and Joseph Naytowhow are the first two IISB Speakers to have educational videos released from the International Indigenous Speaker’s Bureau (IISB) Knowledge Nugget educational video library (launching Winter 2023). Together, IISB and Digital Human Library are working together to honour generations of Indigenous peoples by protecting Indigenous knowledge and contributing to the restoration and reclamation of Indigenous knowledge back to Indigenous communities. With your support, we can begin to reverse the systemic wrongs of the past and become part of the healing by building better pathways for all future generations.
This post is also available in: Français (French)
