Canadian Mennonite University students can be caught wearing orange today as they go to class.

When Phyllis Webstad started at a residential school, she had the chance to buy a brand new outfit. She chose a shiny orange shirt and wore it proudly. The first day, they stripped her, took away her clothes and she never say the orange shirt again.

This is the story behind Orange Shirt Day. Every year on September 30, people across the country are asked to wear orange shirts to recognize the harm the residental school system did and a commitment to reconciliation.

"This day is a day for people to stand and band together in peace and in reconciliation and looking for the hope in what we can become as a nation," said Colin Reimer, a third year psychology student at CMU.

Because the annual day falls on a Saturday this year, maybe schools, including CMU, are hosting the day on September 29. Students are being asked to wear an orange shirt to school and then gather at lunch to take a group photo.

Reimer is not Indigenous himself, but has a a connection through his grandfather.

"[He] was the director of Indigenous Affairs with Manitoba Agriculture," "He did a lot of work with Indigenous groups and was honoured with a pow wow ceremony, a chieftain headdress and an honorary chieftain name."

Reimer said that he is the descendant of Honourary Chief White Cloud of the Long Plains First Nation.

He also had a chance to be part of the Pilgrimage for Indigenous Rights and is working to support Bill C-262. He believes that events and days like this are a great way to continue the conversation.

"It seems to obvious that [Indigenous rights] need to be stood up for," said Reimer. "I just kind of fell in love with this kind of work and a truly believe and have a passion for this kind of reconciliation.

"If there is going to be a big change that comes, why not now?"

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