Students on an Orange Shirt Day walk in 2018. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Orange Shirt Day 2020

Grand Council hosts Orange Shirt Day walk

Sep 29, 2020 | 2:00 PM

Orange Shirt Day, despite the COVID pandemic, is still being honoured in Prince Albert Wednesday to recognize the trauma students experienced at residential schools.

Although learning is different this year, Director of Education for the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division, Robert Bratvold says it is important for schools to continue with Orange Shirt Day.

“There will be fewer of the large school gatherings and assemblies,” Bratvold said. “Most of the activities will be cohort based within the classroom, with some virtual gatherings in a larger way.

“We have been recognizing Orange Shirt Day for a number of years and we certainly see it as a way to respond to Truth and Reconciliation and to honour some of the difficult parts of our past. That is why we continue to do it.”

This year the Prince Albert Grand Council will be hosting a walk from 10 a.m. to noon, at the PAGC grounds.

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“We are going to have drummers on sight and powwow dancers to do an honour dance and song,” Oliveen Sanderson of the PAGC told paNOW. “We are going to be providing a bagged lunch, anyone is welcome to come. The first 20 people who show up will get a free Orange Shirt Day T-shirt.”

For safety reasons there will be precautions taken place at the walk.

“The bagged lunches will be individually wrapped, and we will be practicing social distancing,” Sanderson said. “We will be giving out masks for all the participants – either bring your own or get one from us – and we will have hand sanitizer and anything that is needed to help prevent the spread of COVID.”

Although there is lots to consider during this pandemic, it is important not to forget about residential school survivors.

“We’re still here to help them out, even in this pandemic we are going through. There are still resources for people who need the help in terms of their emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical beings,” Sanderson said.

“It is so important that they know that we are here for them, and they can call us anytime if they need assistance. We don’t want them feeling left out because of the pandemic.”

According to a media release, members of the Rotary Club of Prince Albert and the Lieutenant-Governor, The Honorable Russ Mirasty will meet at 9 a.m. at the Alfred Jenkins Field House, with potential for people to participate by walking or biking some, or all of the Rotary Trail. Runners will return to Alfred Jenkins by 11:15 a.m.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8