Niagara University Observes Every Child Matters Day with Series of Events

On Monday, Sept. 30, Niagara University will observe Every Child Matters Day, or Orange Shirt Day, with a series of drop-in programs and installations across the campus. These activities and exhibits will provide opportunities for education and reflection about the history and lasting impact of residential schools on Indigenous and First Nations communities.

The Castellani Art Museum will launch a pop-up exhibition from11 a.m. until 5 p.m. in its main gallery that focuses on the history of the Thomas Indian School, a state and federally funded residential school in Irving, N.Y., which was in operation from the mid-1800s through 1957. The exhibition will feature a selection of interpretive content curated by Dr. Lori Quigley (Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan), historic artifacts and ephemera, and select images from a 2021 photo essay about the generational impact of the school on the community by Hayden Haynes (Seneca Nation, Deer Clan) featuring Jocelyn Jones (Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan). The exhibit will be on display until Oct. 6.

"Handprints for History" will take place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Gallagher Center'sMultipurpose Room.After learning more about thehistory of residential boarding schools and their impact on Indigenous communities, participants can show solidarity by stamping their handprints for display using orange paint. Each participant will be given an opportunity to share their thoughts after learning the history and importance of Every Child Matters Day.

An orange flag installation will occur on the lawn in front of the O'Shea residence hall between Varsity Village and Dunleavy Hall. The community-made flag installation will occupy our lawn as a visual reminder and temporary monument to the history and legacy of residential schools. The NU community and the public are welcome to participate by adding flags on the lawn between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. as a symbolic gesture and memorial that will remain in place over the course of the week.

Orange Shirt Day was founded on Sept. 30, 2013, by residential school survivor Phyllis (Jack) Webster, Canoe Creek Indian Band, to bring awareness to the individuals, families, and communities affected by the Indian Residential Boarding Schools. In 2022, New York state officially declared Sept. 30 as "Every Child Matters Day," a statewide acknowledgement and healing journey for the survivors of residential and boarding schools.