10/08/2026
Remembering Every Child Matters Day 2026/ Orange Shirt Day.
On Seskehkó:wa/September 30, 2026 Seven Dancers Coalition hosted an Elders Only tent as part of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne day of events to honor and remember survivors of the residential school system.
In both Canada and the United States it is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools in the U.S., and it honors survivors of residential and boarding schools, remembers the children who never returned home, and carries the message "Every Child Matters".
The orange shirt comes from Phyllis Webstad's story of having her new orange shirt taken from her on her first day at a Canadian residential school, and it now symbolizes the loss of culture, language, and identity caused by the school system. (www.stignacenews.ca)
Participants were invited in to learn about the different forms of elder abuse awareness, try some of the native harvest made from berries, white corn and honey, and tea tasting. There was also the opportunity to learn about some native medicines, and invited to take a sample home.
Our tent was to honor our elders and to give them a space to gather, heal and just be together.
Seven Dancers Coalition along with other agencies organized a Medicine Game as the final event.
Tim Rourke and Brenda Lafrance were our basket winners.
