A conversation with the woman behind Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad

To mark Orange Shirt Day (now also referred to as National Day of Truth and Reconciliation) on September 30, we're handing the mic over for a special episode of our Leadership Series. Our guest is author and creator of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad. Hosting the conversation is Scotiabank’s Sloane Muldoon.  

Phyllis talks about her new book: Every Child Matters, ten years of Orange Shirt Day and opens up about her own journey towards healing. 

This episode contains accounts of the violence that occurred at residential schools.   

Every Child Matters books can be ordered directly from Medicine Wheel Publishing.

Key moments this episode: 

1:50 — How Phyllis feels having such a personal story go out into the world 

2:51 — What role she hopes the book will play for fellow residential school survivors 

5:01 — How Canadian’s views of reconciliation have changed in the decade since Orange Shirt Day began 

6:45 — Why a children’s story?  

9:09 — Why the book will resonate with more than just children 

10:30 — Phyllis shares an excerpt from Every Child Matters and explains why that passage especially resonates with her 

13:29 — What does the quote “Truth before reconciliation” mean? 

17:51 — Phyllis opens up about the spiritual side of her healing journey