Orange Shirt Day in the U.S. is observed in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, inspired by the movement that began in Canada. It takes place each year on September 30 and serves as a day of remembrance, reflection, and awareness about the history and legacy of residential and boarding schools for Native children.

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The day originated from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) woman from Canada, whose new orange shirt was taken away from her on her first day at a residential school. Her experience became a symbol of how Indigenous children were stripped of their culture, language, and identity through forced assimilation.

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In the U.S., Orange Shirt Day also acknowledges the history of Indian boarding schools, which operated from the 19th through the 20th century. These schools, often run by the government and religious institutions, aimed to assimilate Native children by removing them from their families and communities, forbidding them to speak their languages, and erasing their cultural traditions. Thousands of children suffered neglect, abuse, and loss of identity—many never returned home.

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Wearing an orange shirt on this day has become a way to:

• Honor survivors of boarding and residential schools.

• Remember the children who never made it home.

• Raise awareness about this painful history and its ongoing impact on Indigenous communities.

• Commit to reconciliation and to supporting Indigenous rights, cultures, and healing.

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In the U.S., some communities and schools now recognize September 30 as the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, aligning with Orange Shirt Day to foster truth-telling and healing.

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Key Sources & References

1. Library of Congress — “Orange Shirt Day and Residential Schools for Native Children in the U.S.”
   Provides background on how the Orange Shirt Day observance is connected to U.S. Indian boarding schools. The Library of Congress

2. Orange Shirt Society (official site)
   Foundational source about the origins, meaning, and purpose of Orange Shirt Day (though originally Canadian) and its symbolic adoption in solidarity. Orange Shirt Society+1

3. National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools (UMass) / Diversity & DEIA page
   Overview of how September 30 is recognized in the U.S. as a day to reflect on the trauma and legacy of Indian boarding schools. UMass Amherst

4. House Concurrent Resolution 53 (U.S. Congress, 117th Congress, 2021)
   A U.S. congressional resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that September 30 be observed as a day of remembrance for Native children who died in U.S. Indian boarding schools, and to recognize survivors and their families. Congress.gov

5. National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS)
   Their materials, acknowledgments, and events give credible framing for the day in the U.S. context. Boarding School Healing+1

6. “Over 970 Native American children died at federal boarding schools” (Reuters, 2024)
   A modern investigation report quantifying child fatalities in the U.S. Indian boarding school system, which underscores the severity of the issue. Reuters

7. Cultural Survival — “Every Child Matters: September 30 is Orange Shirt Day”
   A summary article linking the observance to justice, memory, and Indigenous rights. Cultural Survival

8. Why We Wear Orange: Understanding the Dark History and Persistent Legacy (NHMU / Utah Museum of Natural History)
   Explains the symbolism behind the orange shirt and connects the Canadian origin to broader Indigenous memory. Natural History Museum of Utah​