Orange Shirt Day

Today CCPS acknowledged and learned about why we have Orange Shirt Day. That it is The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Teachers took time to engage students in various learning activities to deeper understand the importance of the day. As a school, we came together to see all the Orange Shirts being worn and listened to the song #44 by Indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume. The song addresses the painful history of the residential school system, written from the perspective of an Indigenous child who was taken away from their family and assigned a number instead of being called by their name.

Here are the lyrics for you to read and reflect on:

[Verse 1]
I was five when they
Took me away from Nimama, Nishta, Nibaba
So, I cried myself
To sleep at night afraid
I'd never see anyone again

[Pre-Chorus]
I can see my land
In my dreams, I can
Just hold my hand
Like we did before

[Chorus]
Sakihitowuk
Sakihtowack
When can I go back to my home before?
Tanshi, my name is forty-four

[Verse 2]
Look out the window and I wanna know
And I wanna go where you are, nokum
Black robes are comin', I hope
Big Bonnet doesn't show
Little robots, we know what to do
Where to go

[Pre-Chorus]
I can see my land
In my dreams, I can
Just hold my hand
Like we did before

[Chorus]
Sakihitowuk
Sakihtowack
When can I go back to my home before?
Tanshi, my name is forty-four

[Pre-Chorus]
I can see my land
In my dreams, I can
Just hold my hand
Like we did before

[Chorus]
Sakihitowuk
Sakihtowack
When can I go back to my home before?
Tanshi, my name
Tanshi, my name is forty-four