Muslim Charity launches Orange Day Campaign

The Canadian Muslim charity, Islamic Relief Canada, in recognition of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, has collaborated with Kel-c Jules, a Secwépemc artist and daughter of a residential school survivor, to launch a limited edition Orange Shirt campaign.

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities..

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not.

Kel-c Jules (@kelc.jules) is a Secwépemc artist, teacher, and model based in Kamloops, British Columbia. Her artwork is focused on how to improve and move forward from Canadian history and the traumas that have happened to her people.

“All the proceeds from these Orange Shirt sales will be donated to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, an organization dedicated to providing physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities,” said Islamic Relief Canada in a FaceBook statement.

In June, on the occasion of National Indigenous Peoples Day, a statement from Islamic Relief Canada, was released with the guidance of an elder from the Indigenous community.

“We were horrified to learn about the 215 children who were found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School recently. As part of our mandate to advocate for justice and human rights — and from a moral and religious perspective — we felt moved to express our solidarity with the Indigenous peoples of Canada. As allies, we also want to take tangible action to improve lives and build better relationships between our communities,” said Reyhana Patel, head of communications and government relations at Islamic Relief Canada.

The Islamic Relief statement includes five action items:

1. Engaging with Indigenous peoples in a “good way”, guided by the principles of respect, recognition, sharing and responsibility.
2. Promising to promote ongoing education and awareness initiatives for staff to learn about Indigenous history, rights and cultures.
3. Supporting the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world, including the right to clear water, housing sanitation, health and social security.
4. Adhering to the Indigenous-developed OCAP Principles when engaging in information-sharing involving Indigenous peoples.
5. Building new relationships with Indigenous nations through advocacy, culturally sensitive programs and service delivery that enhance Indigenous wellbeing.

You can purchase our shirts to stand in solidarity with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

Shop for the 'Hand in Hand' shirt: http://shop.islamicreliefcanada.org/.../orange-shirt-hands

Shop for the  'Loon & Stars' shirt: http://shop.islamicreliefcanada.org/.../orange-shirt-loon...