Decolonization and me: Conversations about healing a Nation and Ourselves

(Hardback)

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It has been more than 10 years since the first Orange Shirt Day was held in Williams Lake, British Columbia. Since then, Phyllis Webstad, the founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement, Residential School Survivor, and award-winning Indigenous author, has shared her story on a global level and advocated for the rights of Indigenous Peoples to be honoured and respected. In doing so, Phyllis offers a unique perspective into the social consciousness on Orange Shirt Day and Reconciliation.

This book challenges readers through a series of sensitive conversations exploring decolonization, Indigenization, healing, and every person's individual responsibility to truth and reconciliation. Centered around the Orange Shirt Day movement, and a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, these conversations encourage readers to unpack and reckon with denialism, biases, privilege, and the journey forward, on both a personal and national level. Within each chapter, Phyllis offers insights on these topics, and stories from her personal journey, which co-author and Metis scholar, Kristy McLeod, helps readers to further navigate.

Through empathetic truth-telling, this book offers an opportunity to witness, reflect, heal, and be intentional about the seeds we hope to plant for the future, together. This book is for everyone and invites you to step into a space of reflection on your personal relationship with truth, reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day.

Author Bio

Phyllis Webstad (ne Jack) is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She comes from mixed Secwpemc and Irish/Scottish heritage. She was born in Dog Creek and lives in Williams Lake, BC, Canada. In 2018 Phyllis Webstad launched her children's book called The Orange Shirt Story to share her story in her own words. The Orange shirt story tells the story of young Phyllis having her orange shirt taken away on her first day of Residential School and never to see it again. A simple orange shirt has become a conversation starter for all aspects of residential school across Canada and beyond. Phyllis has inspired thousands and thousands of people to honour Residential School Survivors and their families and share the call on September 30th of each year that "EVERY CHILD MATTERS." Phyllis is well respected for her work as an ambassador for the Orange Shirt Day, her courage and for striving to heal our communities and Nation through speaking her truth. Kristy McLeod is a registered Mtis with family roots in the Lac St. Anne and Red River Settlements. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction exploring Mtis Identity. Her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction was focused on how to create inclusive schools. She has been working as an educator in schools for the past 20+ years, both as a teacher in the K-12 system and as a sessional instructor at the University of Victoria. She is Co-owner of PathWise Solutions Inc, a company focused on creating eLearning and training, as well as web solutions for diverse learning groups. She was chair of the Education Committee for the Mtis Nation of Victoria and a Director at Large on its board since 2021. Her focus in all things she does is to recognize the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of consultation in creating unity.