in affirmation of our commitment to reconciliation and anti-racism, and the belief that every child matters.

September 30^th marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  Arrowsmith Lodge employees showed their support by wearing orange.  We were able to purchase our beautiful shirts through Indigenous Printing & Office Solutions (www.indigenousprinting.ca).

The artwork was designed by Stacia Goodman, who is a Liqwiltox̌ artist (part of the Kwakwakaw’wakw peoples) and member of the We Wai Kai First Nation, originating from the traditional territory of Tsa-Kwa-Luten (Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, British Columbia).

The We Wai Kai Nation (Cape Mudge Band) current population is approximately 1200 Citizens. We Wai Kai embrace their language and culture to build a proud, healthy, safe, and self-sufficient community. They support and encourage each other to thrive by following the footsteps of their ancestral history, as stewards of their lands and waters, while balancing their role in modern day society.

Artist Statement:

“Mother Bear Energy”

For such an intimidating predator with impressive teeth and claws, mother bears are one of the most loving and caring creatures to their children. They are also ferocious defenders of their cubs and are a force to be reckoned with. This immense inner strength reminds me of the untapped raw power in all our Indigenous women who act as warriors and healers.

In my piece, I wanted to capture that beautiful spirit of a protective warrior and an uplifting healer full of love. Our inner warrior can show those teeth and claws, never backing down when it comes to fighting for what is just and right when it comes to our people. Our inner healer does the challenging work, practicing love and lateral kindness, choosing to be a toxic cycle breaker and uplifting those who surround us in our communities.

I thought this duality of love and strength was such fitting energy to bring into a representation of an orange shirt day design.

-Stacia Goodman, We Wai Kai Nation

(Summary provided by www.indigenousprinting.ca)

Orange Shirt Day is the legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013.

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, a former student, shared her story of how the new orange shirt her grandmother bought her was taken away from her on her first day of residential school when she was six years old. Phyllis’s story resonated with other Residential School Survivors and opened the door to the discussion of the harm done to generations of children by residential schools and the healing journey of survivors and their families.