Edmonds School District to recognize Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day, honoring Indigenous residential school survivors

The Edmonds School Board officially recognized Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day, aiming to honor Indigenous residential school survivors. This observance began in 2013 to highlight the trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities by residential schools. Each year, people wear orange shirts to remember those affected by this historical injustice. Advocates from the Mountlake Terrace High School Indigenous Student Union played a key role in drafting the resolution.

The U. S. government established these schools in the late 1800s, leading to severe cultural loss and abuse among Indigenous youth. A recent federal investigation revealed that approximately 973 Indigenous children died in U. S.

residential schools. By adopting this resolution, the school board encourages community members to reflect on Indigenous history and wear orange in solidarity. The district emphasizes the importance of education and dialogue to foster understanding and reconciliation.