Beyond the Orange Shirt Story

by Phyllis Webstad

Beyond the Orange Shirt Story is a unique collection of truths, as told by six generations of Phyllis Webstad’s family that will give readers an up-close look at what life was like before, during, and after their Residential School experiences. In this book, Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors share their stories authentically and in their own words. Readers of this book will become more aware of a number of challenges faced by many Indigenous peoples in Canada. With this awareness comes learning and unlearning, understanding, acceptance, and change. Phyllis’s hope is that all Canadians honour the lives and experiences of Survivors and their families as we go Beyond the Orange Shirt Story.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History, Education, Historical

100 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2021

About the author

Phyllis Jack Webstad is a Northern Secwepemc author from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, and the creator of Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance marked in Canada later instated as the public holiday of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. She is a First Nations residential school survivor.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful for Phyllis Webstad and her family, for sharing their stories in this book. The multi-generational storytelling, and the way that many of them came straight from the person whose story was being told, was very special. The truths, the memories, and wisdom shared here spoke to the depth of resilience in this family, and those who were forced into the residential school system. Seeing the photos at the end speak just as much as the words in this book.

[Dasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book. Webstad uses the stories of multiple generations of her family in order to provide perspectives on Indigenous life and resilience over the 20th century. If you want to know why this book is so critical to read and listen to, please read the Dorchester Review's of Behind the Orange Shirt (the complementary book to this one). There remains a large group of Canadians who refuse to believe that injustices occurred and would rather pick apart personal stories and experiences to justify that position.

[Lauren Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The past is something that cannot be erased but can be healed through education and knowledge." (67)

This book had meaningful stories and showed how multigenerational trauma can run through a family. I found however, it really tends to focus on the positives and really brush over the negatives. I wish there was more touched on for reconciliation.

This book was a quick read; as I read it in about a day.

I would recommend this book to all Canadians!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are important stories but it felt like there was little collaboration, as each section retold the familial connections in the book. I can see why they wanted to keep the editing of their stories to a minimum, it just felt more difficult to engage as a reader.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we learned what was happening to all the survivors of residential schools the last few years - most Canadians were horrified to learn of the atrocities to the First Nations peoples at the hands of government and the church.

I wasn’t surprised by what I read in the book. I was horrified to see how little changed between 1886 and 1996.

These are personal stories of the Webstad family and they are a testament to the human spirit.

This is just one book of what will be many that I read over the coming years.

I would hear a few stories over my life - chalked it up to some kids being unlucky enough to be abused here and there across our country. Well, that’s not the case at all. This was systematic cruelty désigned to shame and break an entire population.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this collection of 'survivor stories' from several generations of Phyllis Webstad's family was very well done. I liked how each person's voice and experiences were distinct from another's . . . how some chose to focus on certain aspects of their life in residential school as opposed to other aspects.
I think this book (and others like it) should be essential reading in Canadian classrooms, especially in the higher grades. This is Canadian history, and we cannot move forward into reconciliation without knowing the truth of the injustices experienced by our First Nations Peoples.

[Rai]

I'm glad that a book exists for a slightly older age group to expand upon the orange shirt story, particularly to show the intergenerational effects of residential schools. The stories from various members of Webstad's family show the differing experiences that people had at residential schools, good and bad, without denying the reality of what went on.

[Tracy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing your stories. It is incredibly important for people to read various stories from residential school survivors. I’m grateful that this family is willing to open up and share their stories.

This book shares stories from several generations. It’s appropriate for mid-grade students and up.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and informative. I would recommend that everyone read this book to get more of an insight into what happened to these children who were forced into the residential school system. It inspires me to read more on this very heartbreaking part of Canadian history.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful read recounting the intergenerational impact of trauma on Residential School survivors. These short stories were very personal and also very balanced about what the experience was like. Recommended reading for all ages but especially for a younger audience.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truth before Reconciliation. Residential "school" experiences are important to share; they are also important to edit and rewrite. Unfortunately, these stories read as incomplete and conversational. I felt like there was so much more to learn from these survivors.

[Eve Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. As an educator I think this book is great for the classroom as it has stories that are real and true but appropriate for students to hear and learn from. I think it is so important that we share stories like these as much as possible.

[B.M. M. Polier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

[Arwyn King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for all Canadians as it gives insight to generations of Indigenous experiences with Residential Schools.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that it's very important to learn about different experiences of residential school survivors. I like that there were several different experiences highlighted from different time frames.

[Tammy Lacroix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read! Canadians need to pick this up and read it. The insight it gives into residential schools and what the children endured is heartbreaking and necessary!

[Amy Perrault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about why we have orange shirt day & all about Natives like me

[Denicemarcell]

Tracking intergenerational trauma from the Residential School

[Shamana Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impactful to hear the different stories of generations of residential school survivors. Thank you for having the courage to put this together.

[Lisa Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of stories that need to be heard. A shameful part of Canadian history that we all need to hear.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and necessary read. I'd have loved more information about Phyllis' First Nation traditions and surviving heritage, and also a family tree because I was confused at times.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that tells about the lingering trauma of residential boarding schools from her great-grandmother to her great-grandsons.