Watson Library Craft – September 2025

Every Child Matters Saskatchewan – Why We Wear Orange

The Every Child Matters Saskatchewan Woodcut T-Shirt Project at Watson Library is more than just a craft—it’s a way for children to engage with history through creativity. Using a handcrafted woodcut design, participants paint an orange t-shirt, then personalize it with a set of provided stickers. This tactile process gives kids both ownership and a safe space to learn why this day is significant.

The orange t-shirt is a sacred symbol of remembrance for survivors of residential schools and for the children who never made it home. It honours the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school. Wearing orange represents solidarity, acknowledgement, and a commitment to never forget. By guiding children to make their own shirts, we help them understand that remembrance is an action, not just a colour.

The Woodcut Design – Making a Lasting Mark

The heart of this project is a custom woodcut t-shirt, carefully laser-cut.

Stickers as Symbols – Learning Through Storytelling

Alongside their woodcraft shirt, each child receives a sheet of stickers: symbolic shapes, gentle motifs, and supportive words. As they place these stickers on their shirt, library staff and volunteers guide the discussion about what the symbols mean and how they connect to the Every Child Matters Saskatchewan message. This learning-through-doing approach makes the lesson tactile and memorable.

Safe, Guided Conversations

This event has been designed to be age-appropriate and sensitive. Volunteers provide historical context in plain language, focusing on understanding, empathy, and reverence for Orange Shirt Day. The crafting element keeps children engaged while giving adults a framework to share the weight of the day. By framing the activity within Every Child Matters Saskatchewan, we emphasize that this is a collective act of remembrance.

Community, Memory, and Connection

Holding the craft day at Watson Public Library underscores the role of community spaces in remembrance. The library is a place where stories live—and this activity adds another story: one of acknowledgement, healing, and the importance of never forgetting. By taking part in Every Child Matters Saskatchewan initiatives like this, families strengthen ties to history and community.

Always Handwerked in Saskatchewan.

Every Child Matters Saskatchewan is more than a phrase—it’s a promise. This craft day at Watson Public Library lets kids create, learn, and carry that message forward in a way that feels personal. Together, we honour the past and commit to building a better future.

FAQs

Q: Why is orange the chosen colour?
A: Orange was chosen to honour the story of Phyllis Webstad, who was stripped of her new orange shirt at a residential school. It has since become a national symbol of remembrance and reverence, and a central part of Every Child Matters Saskatchewan.

Q: Are the stickers permanent?
A: They’re permanent—intended for the event and storytelling. The woodcut is lasting.

Q: Can adults participate?
A: This activity is designed for children, but adults are encouraged to join the discussion, help guide sticker placement, and support the conversation. Taking part together reinforces the meaning of Every Child Matters Saskatchewan.