Every Child Matters
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An important look at the history of residential schools, and the resilience of Indigenous culture and identity
Learn the meaning behind the phrase, ‘Every Child Matters.’ Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad, offers insights into this heartfelt movement. Every Child Matters honours the history and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island and moves us all forward on a path toward Truth and Reconciliation. If you’re a Residential School Survivor or an Intergenerational Survivor — you matter. For the children who didn’t make it home — you matter. The child inside every one of us matters. Every Child Matters.
Medicine Wheel Publishing is committed to sharing diverse voices and perspectives, creating a platform for stories that celebrate Indigenous cultures and inspire understanding and respect among readers of all ages.
Phyllis Webstad
Phyllis Webstad (née Jack) is Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She comes from mixed Secwépemc and Irish/Scottish heritage. She was born in Dog Creek and lives in Williams Lake, BC, Canada.
Because of Phyllis and her story, a simple orange shirt has become a conversation starter and national symbol to honour Residential School Survivors and their families. She has received four honorary PhDs for her activism, and in January 2025, she was a recipient of the BC Reconciliation Award and a new award was announced: the Phyllis Webstad Emerging Leaders Youth Award.
More by Phyllis Webstad
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