People wear orange to honor the resilience and experiences of Indigenous survivors, remember the children who never returned home from residential and boarding schools, and commit to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.

The day is inspired by Phyllis Webstad, whose grandmother bought her a shiny new orange shirt for her first day at St. Joseph?s Mission Residential School in British Columbia in 1973. When she arrived, the school stripped her and took the shirt away. The orange color came to symbolize the tragic loss of culture, language, and identity experienced by Indigenous children. The movement uses the phrase "Every Child Matters" to affirm that all children deserve dignity and safety.