Katzie First Nation Elder Ed Pierre recommends Miya Wears Orange by Wanda John-Kehewin to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 recognizes the tragic legacy of residential schools and honours the children who never returned home, the survivors, and all the families impacted. It coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which was started by non-profit Orange Shirt Society to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools.
Miya Wears Orange is a story about finding courage and hope while learning about difficult truths.
“The reason why I chose this book about Orange Shirt Day (is it) sort of tells us a little bit about truth and reconciliation and why it’s important, especially to children,” explained Elder Ed Pierre. “When we talk about Indigenous people and we talk to university students on the very same issue, I put it into words that – I’m talking to an adult. But if I go to an elementary school, I know how to talk to 6-year-olds on the (same) issue but you have to put it to them (in a way) so it’s not harmful to them.”
Books like this can help do that, he noted.
Miya is a young Indigenous girl who loves storytime in school. One day, her teacher reads a story in class about a little girl who was taken to a residential school. The girl wasn’t allowed to go home, had her hair cut, and lost her favourite doll – all because she was Indigenous, just like Miya. Hearing this, Miya becomes worried about her own future. Through the support of her mother, she learns how to manage these big feelings and move forward by honouring and remembering the past, every day.
Pierre said he relates to the story because just like Miya, he was the only Indigenous student in his secondary school. And just like Miya, he honours the children who never returned home, the survivors who did, and remembers the tragic legacy of residential schools every day.
“Orange Shirt Day is important because it’s a story that sort of gives you an idea (of what happened, and) reminders that we all need, that it’s an everyday thing,” Pierre said. “It’s not only something that is shown on Orange Shirt Day, Red Dress Day. It’s something that everybody’s talking about on an everyday basis.”
“When we talk to children, they bring that word home to their siblings and to mum and dad, and it’s important too, because it’s something that’s got to be told,” Pierre said. “Because when I’m long gone, you know, the story has to still continue. Why? We have to talk about the truth and reconciliation. The truth is in me about what happened to me. And I don’t want my children to ever experience that.”
Miya Wears Orange is available in SD42 libraries.
