Remembering and Honoring: Orange Shirt Day at Mesa Community College

Every year, Orange Shirt Day offers a poignant reminder of the painful history faced by Indigenous peoples, particularly those impacted by Native American boarding schools. This year, Mesa Community College (MCC) is set to commemorate this significant occasion with a series of impactful events that highlight the resilience and creativity of Indigenous communities.

The Significance of Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is not just a date on the calendar; it represents a movement rooted in personal stories and collective memory. The day is linked to the experiences of Phyllis Webstad, a survivor of the Canadian Indian residential school system. Her story began when she was just six years old and had her beloved orange shirt taken from her on her first day at school.

• Commemoration: The day is dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of these institutions.
• Acknowledgment: It serves as a platform for Indigenous communities to share their stories and educate others about the historical injustices faced.
• Collective Healing: Orange Shirt Day encourages a dialogue around healing and reconciliation.

A Glimpse into the Past

The legacy of Native American boarding schools is marked by trauma and loss. According to Professor Mona Scott Figueroa, who is a member of the Navajo Nation, these institutions were often sites of abuse.

“Many students faced physical and sexual abuse. Tragically, there are families who never saw their children again, as some were killed or went missing,” she shared.

Recent investigations have uncovered mass graves linked to these schools, revealing the tragic fate of at least 6,000 children in Canada alone. The discovery of both marked and unmarked graves at U.S. boarding schools adds to the heartbreaking narrative.

Personal Stories and Shared Legacy

Scott Figueroa's connection to this history is deeply personal; her mother is a survivor of a boarding school in northern Arizona. She recounts the harsh realities endured:

“If you spoke your heritage language, you faced severe consequences. My mother shared that children were punished in unforgiving ways for expressing their identity,” she reflected.

The importance of representation cannot be overstated. Scott Figueroa emphasizes that seeing positive depictions of Native Americans in media fosters a sense of belonging among Indigenous students.

Join the Celebration at MCC

This year, MCC will host its first-ever Orange Shirt Day Open Mic event on September 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Navajo Room. This gathering will focus on artistic expression, allowing participants to share their experiences through poetry, music, and storytelling.

Previous events have included solidarity walks and community rallies, drawing nearly 100 attendees, highlighting the collective commitment to remembrance and healing.

Featured Guests

Among the special guests this year will be:

• Taté Walker - Lakota Author
• Miss Native MCC Kadence Sayles - Yavapai and Lakota
• Miss Native MCC First Attendant Kaitlyn Yazzie - Navajo

How to Participate

To honor Orange Shirt Day, consider wearing an orange shirt, attending local events, and engaging in conversations about the history and ongoing impact of boarding schools. Your participation can contribute to awareness and healing within the community.

What do you think?

• How can educational institutions better support Indigenous history in their curriculums?
• What role should art play in addressing historical trauma?
• Do you believe enough is being done to reconcile the past injustices faced by Indigenous communities?
• How do you feel about the public acknowledgment of these histories through events like Orange Shirt Day?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this crucial topic as we strive for understanding and healing. Your perspective matters!