On Monday, Sept. 30, the Salmon River Central School District observed Residential Boarding School Awareness Day, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

School administrators, faculty, staff, and students were invited to wear orange in recognition of the tragic legacy and lasting impact of residential boarding schools on Indigenous communities in both the United States and Canada.

Each year on Sept. 30, Salmon River recognizes this history, emphasizing that ‘Every Child Matters.’ This is a phrase that is often placed on the orange shirts worn on this day.

By wearing orange, students, staff, and community members helped raise awareness, honor Indigenous culture and stand in solidarity with efforts to acknowledge and heal from this painful past.