(credit: FSU)
Orange Shirt Day or Truth and Reconciliation Day is coming up on September, 30. To recognize the day, Fanshawe will have special radio programming and the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) will hold an event.
FSU has a free concert with DJ Shub and special guest Shawnee Kish.
“The day and the message that we want everyone to realize is that, yeah, there’s a really terrible history that’s happened, but we also want to be able to celebrate all of the things that make Indigenous people strong and resilient,” says Institute of Indigenous Learning Assistant Manager, Natalie Fletcher. “Apart from the concert, which we are partnering with Fanshawe Student Union, there will also be some poster board displays in the library learning commons that talk about the history and the legacy and how people can become involved in that process.”
The concert is at 5 p.m. in Forwell Hall, London campus.
Natalie Fletcher (credit: Fanshawe Institute of Indigenous Learning)
“It’s not just wearing an orange shirt, of course, we want to see that in solidarity, but also it’s just to understand the past and that Indigenous people have a place in learning institutions,” Fletcher continues. “It’s about building communities.”
Fanshawe’s radio station, 106.9 The X, will play a national program recognizing the Orange Shirt Day initiative.
“This year’s theme is called ‘All My Relations’ and ‘All My Relations’ is a term used by some Indigenous people of Turtle Island to express that everything is interconnected,” says Radio Professor, Michael Stoparczyk. “Everything during that broadcast will speak about Indigenous identity through conversations about representation in sports and entertainment, comedy, culture and healing, merging traditions and fashion, healthcare, and really it’s more about reconciliation.”
This National programming will be played on over 500 radio stations and began in 2016.
“I think just in general, it’s the fourth year that our station has been a part of this program. We’re obviously very proud to represent and to amplify Indigenous voices,” Stoparczyk continues.
The program will air from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, September, 30.
