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Book Lists

Books for Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis' story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children, as we want to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations. Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.

by Kerry Clare · Tagged reconciliation, orange shirt day

Speaking Our Truth

A Journey of Reconciliation

by (author) Monique Gray Smith

Stolen Words

by (author) Melanie Florence
illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

I Am Not a Number

by (author) Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer
illustrated by Gillian Newland

Fatty Legs

A True Story

by (author) Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton

Not My Girl

by (author) Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Dear Canada: These Are My Words

The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens

by (author) Ruby Slipperjack

Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools

The Devastating Impact on Canada's Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Findings and Calls for Action

by (author) Melanie Florence

When We Were Alone

by (author) David A. Robertson
illustrated by Julie Flett

Shi-shi-etko

by (author) Nicola Campbell
illustrated by Kim LaFave

A Stranger at Home

A True Story

by (author) Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

As Long as the Rivers Flow

by (author) Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden
illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund

My Name Is Seepeetza

30th Anniversary Edition

by (author) Shirley Sterling
afterword by Tomson Highway

The Orange Shirt Story

The True Story of Orange Shirt Day

by (author) Phyllis Webstad
illustrated by Jessika Von I
edited by Emma Bullen

I Lost My Talk

by (author) Rita Joe
illustrated by Pauline Young

I'm Finding My Talk

by (author) Rebecca Thomas
illustrated by Pauline Young

Ends/Begins

by (author) David A. Robertson
illustrated by Scott B. Henderson