Wearing Orange For Truth & Reconciliation – Listening, Learning, and Doing Better

Article by Guest Writer Jill Moffatt, Canadian Olympic Athlete, Fuelled by Cheeseburgers

Every month I cover topics that are important to both me, and Big Wheel Burger! We align on so many community initiatives so why not put them all in writing. I thought I would share what it was like to be an Olympian and the how important community support is. Thanks for reading along and joining me on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!

 

Hello Again!

September is an important month in Canada as we commemorate our National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. I wanted to write about what this means to me, and the work that Big Wheel Burger has done to support the community and recognize the land that we all work and play on.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

As copied from the government website, “September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.”

As someone who has grown up with the white privilege and advantages that my European ancestry has bestowed to me, it is hard to truly grasp the pain and suffering that has occurred, (and continues to occur) for the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

This has never been more obvious to me than when considering the recent findings of unmarked graves across Canada, specifically here on Vancouver Island. This last year, the Tseshaht Nation found historical records showing 67 children died at the residential school located in Port Alberni and discovered another 17 potential unmarked graves. It is hard to comprehend that kind of atrocity, nevertheless, the impact it has on the survivors and their loved ones today.

Taking part in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just one small way to recognize the history and ongoing impact of residential schools. It also reminds me of the work I can do to be educated on the history of the land I live on, so I can be mindful and proactive in taking part in a more inclusive and fair future.

Expanding My Horizons

One easy way that I got started in my learning was through a free course at the University of Alberta called Indigenous Canada. This course is “12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.

This was a great way to learn more and it was fantastic because I could take it at my own speed, plus it was free! I very much recommend this for those wanting to learn more. It covers the basic history of colonization and brings you into present-day issues.

Another way I have expanded my perspective is through reading and combining my interests. My background is in health policy and gender studies, so I try to expand my formal education to take into consideration the Indigenous perspective and the impact that systemic racism has. It does not take long to see many issues that still exist today, specifically the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry that was completed this year. I am far from an expert in this space, but I do try my best to practice intersectional feminism when approaching my interests.

Orange Shirt Day on Vancouver Island

 

orange shirt day

One way that I am going to take part this month is through Orange Shirt Day (also on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30th). 

Orange Shirt Day started in 2013 as a grassroots movement to 1) support Indian Residential School Reconciliation, 2) create awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Society activities, and 3) create awareness of the concept of “Every Child Matters.”

By wearing an orange shirt on Sept 30th, I show my solidarity with the community. It is a small act, but I believe it is really important.

I am really proud to be associated with Big Wheel Burger as they have been a great supporter of Orange Shirt day. Not only have they supported the Victoria Orange Shirt Day Society since the beginning, but they have assisted in purchasing larger quantities of orange shirts to sell and raise money. 

You can actually buy a shirt at the Big Wheel locations in both Victoria and Nanaimo. You can also buy a shirt, as well as other products from the organizing website found here.

I’ll be wearing my shirt on the 30th, and I hope this encourages you to do the same!

 

My name is Jill Moffatt and I am an Olympic rower living in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. Big Wheel Burger is supporting me on my path to the Olympics and in exchange I’ll be sharing parts of that journey with you! Follow along each month for behind the scenes stories and other things outside of rowing that I am passionate about. Thanks for reading along and joining me on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!