Local collaboration brings deeper meaning to Orange Shirt Day

This September, the Steinbach Arts Council teamed up with Oakleaf Promotions to make local art a part of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  Featured on our orange shirts is artwork by two local Métis artists, bringing extra meaning to our shirts and their significance as we acknowledge the impact that residential schools have had in Canada.

“I hope these efforts encourage awareness and compassion for the Indigenous children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools,” says artist, Pierrette Sherwood.

Artist, Janine Lemay-Troche reflects: “It was important for me to participate in this project to help bring awareness to what my people the Métis and other indigenous peoples, especially children, have suffered.  It was a great injustice to indigenous families to have them separated from each other and to have their children sent away.  I have a heart and passion for children, and it was an honour for me to work on creating a design for the ‘Every Child Matters‘ Orange Shirt Day.  I want to be a part of remembering the lost children and the survivors of residential schools and help their families find healing.”

Wearing an orange shirt is symbolic—it’s a powerful statement of resilience, reconciliation, and remembrance. The orange shirt itself represents the story of Phyllis Webstad, a third-generation residential school survivor, who had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day at a residential school, symbolizing the stripping of Indigenous identity and dignity.

“By partnering with a Steinbach business, we were able to make ‘local shirts’ possible. We believe it’s important to celebrate artists from the southeast and build strong relationships. This was one way we felt we could help—building a deeper connection to the intent of Orange Shirt Day, which is to recognize the impact that residential schools have had on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families across Canada,” says David Klassen, Executive Director of the Steinbach Arts Council.

Artists:

Pierrette Sherwood, a French-Canadian Métis artist with roots to the Cree Nation, transforms reclaimed metals into captivating art. Her work, which spans sculpture, mosaic, and assemblage, has gained local and national attention. Pierette’s upcoming solo exhibit at the Prairie Fusion Gallery (Portage la Prairie, MB) in November 2024 will showcase her innovative approach to art and storytelling.

Janine Lemay-Troche, proudly identifying as Red River Métis is the great-great-niece of Louis Riel, Manitoba’s founder and first Premier. An accomplished artist, quilter, and ribbon skirt maker, Janine dedicates her craft to sharing her rich French/Métis heritage with future generations.

Klassen says, “Many of us are taking ‘first steps’ toward Reconciliation, and by demonstrating a desire to learn and engage, we are brought closer to restored relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. We believe that engaging with art helps us appreciate different perspectives, encouraging understanding and empathy, and this was one way we could continue creating a community that understands each other.”

All proceeds from this project will be donated to Pathways of Healing, an initiative of the Southern Chief’s Organization Inc.