Orange Shirt Day events will be held in some Langley schools this week, honouring survivors of the Indian Residential schools and promoting reconciliation and the message that “every child matters.”
Thursday, Sept. 28, former Langley school trustee Cecilia Reekie will speak to Walnut Grove Secondary students and staff on her story, and about the Residential Schools system.
Over many decades, thousands of First Nations children were forced to go to residential schools, where speaking the native languages was forbidden, there were often harsh physical punishments, and where many children were sexually abused by their caretakers.
The Langley School District has participated in Orange Shirt Day since 2014, and activities are taking place all week.
For more information, visit orangeshirtday.org.