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By Aya Al-Jawad
I stand today, in orange dressed
For the lost dignity of 6 year old Phyllis Jack Webstad
An Indigenous girl forced to go to residential school
Wore grandmother’s orange gift that made her feel cool
She was full of happiness and joy
She thought all day about it while playing with her toy
I will wear it on the first day
And everyone will love it, won’t they!
With her head held high
Wearing her orange shirt and staring at the sky
She walked to school
But she was greeted with people who were cruel
They took grandmother’s gift forcefully
Along with her dignity
She once had a glowing smile
What trauma happened to this innocent child
I stand today, in orange dressed
For the lost dignity of 6 year old Phyllis Jack Webstad
And for all the residential school survivors she represents instead
I stand today, in orange dressed
In a safe school that I have been blessed
A place where my orange shirt will not be taken away
To remember the tragedy of residential schools to this day
-September 23 2021 (orange shirt day is on the 30th of September)
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