On Monday, September 30, 2024, survivors and community members gathered at the site of the former Tomah Indian Industrial School in Tomah, Wisconsin, to observe Orange Shirt Day.
The day is dedicated to honoring survivors of Indian boarding schools and remembering the children who never returned home.
The Tomah Indian Industrial School, which operated from 1893 to 1941, was one of 11 boarding schools in Wisconsin. During its years of operation, it housed about 350 Native American students, many of whom were from the Ho-Chunk Nation.
The school’s purpose was to force Native children to adopt mainstream American culture, forbidding them from speaking their languages or practicing their traditions.
Orange Shirt Day began in Canada in 2013, inspired by Phyllis Webstad, a member of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. On her first day at a boarding school, she wore a new orange shirt her grandmother had given her. The school took it from her, symbolizing the loss experienced by thousands of Indigenous children who were sent to these schools.
In Tomah, attendees honored the memory of those children with an honor song, recognizing the hardships they faced. The Waaksik Wosga Revitalization and the Hoocak Remembrance Day Planning Committee organized the event, bringing in guest speakers to share stories and reflect on the impact of the boarding schools.
The event was a moment for survivors and their families to come together, remember the past, and acknowledge the resilience of Native communities. Orange Shirt Day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and ensuring the stories of boarding school survivors are not forgotten.