Fostering awareness, understanding, and action

Fostering awareness, understanding, and action

The student-run Tricolour Outlet collaborates with a local Cree artist to create t-shirts supporting the Orange Shirt Society.

By Communications Staff

September 21, 2023

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Photograph of students wearing orange shirts recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The orange shirts feature an image created by local Cree artist Jaylene Cardinal depicting a pair of children鈥檚 moccasins set between woodland forget-me-not flowers.

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students at the have been readying to help the campus community show solidarity in orange. Together with Queen鈥檚 staff and local Cree artist Jaylene Cardinal, they have prepared an orange t-shirt design that are on sale now until Oct. 2, with a portion of proceeds set to support the , an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to educating people in Canada about the legacy of residential schools and supporting survivors.

鈥淲earing an orange shirt is an act of solidarity with Indigenous people and communities impacted by Canada鈥檚 residential school system, and an outward show of support for survivors and families of those taken too soon,鈥 says Deanna Fialho, Director, Yellow House Student Centre for Equity & Inclusion, co-chair of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Working Group. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to collaborate with students at the Tricolour Outlet and Jaylene Cardinal to create a unique and impactful orange t-shirt design that I hope inspires meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. Donating a portion of these sales to support the impactful community work happening through the Orange Shirt Society is a special and new aspect of our work this year. Reconciliation will take all of us working together to foster awareness, understanding, and action. Creating the orange shirts collaboratively is an expression of this spirit.鈥

The design

Graphic design for orange shirts by local Cree artist Jaylene Cardinal, depicting depicting a pair of children鈥檚 moccasins set between woodland forget-me-not flowers.

The orange shirts feature an image created by local Cree artist Jaylene Cardinal. It depicts a pair of children鈥檚 moccasins set between woodland forget-me-not flowers.

鈥淐hildren鈥檚 moccasins are the first shoes many Indigenous children wear. In this image they represent a baby鈥檚 first steps, and symbolize helping children move forward in life,鈥 says Cardinal, co-owner of W.C. Creatives and current participant in the for Indigenous women entrepreneurs offered through the Queen鈥檚-led WE-CAN Project. 鈥淭he flowers represent true love and respect, and express that the children harmed by residential schools will be remembered and will always be in our thoughts.鈥

The design is also central to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities and observance taking place at Queen鈥檚 between Sept 25-Oct. 2, and will be visible on social media and physical designs during that period.

The Tricolour team have prepared 2,000 shirts that will be available to students, staff, and faculty for purchase. They will be on sale from Sept. 14鈥揙ct. 2 at the Tricolour Outlet and online, as well as at pop-ups outside Douglas Library at University and Union (Sept. 19-21) and the Queen's Centre (Sept. 27-29).

鈥淪eptember 30 is an extremely important day within the Queen鈥檚 student community and it鈥檚 an honour for those of us at Tricolour Outlet to help provide something that brings such meaningful visibility to such an important part of Canadian history that still impacts Indigenous peoples today,鈥 says Ayan Chowdhury, Tricolour Outlet Head Manager and fourth-year biology student. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to seeing everyone at our location and pop-ups, and to seeing everyone showing their support for residential school survivors and Indigenous communities by wearing orange.鈥

In addition to orange shirt sales, the university has several events and engagements planned, including two film screenings, an Indigenous art display, and a sacred fire ceremony. For a full calendar of activities visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.

With the 2023 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation falling on a Saturday, all academic activity will be suspended the following Monday, Oct. 2, in observance of the day.

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