Decolonization and Me: Conversations about Healing a Nation and Ourselves

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Released August 19th!

It has been more than 10 years since the first Orange Shirt Day was held in Williams Lake, British Columbia. Since then, Phyllis Webstad, the founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement, Residential School Survivor, and award-winning Indigenous author, has shared her story on a global level and advocated for the rights of Indigenous Peoples to be honoured and respected. In doing so, Phyllis offers a unique perspective into the social consciousness on Orange Shirt Day and Reconciliation. 

This book challenges readers through a series of sensitive conversations exploring decolonization, Indigenization, healing, and every person's individual responsibility to truth and reconciliation. Centered around the Orange Shirt Day movement, and a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, these conversations encourage readers to unpack and reckon with denialism, biases, privilege, and the journey forward, on both a personal and a national level. Within each chapter, Phyllis offers insights on these topics, and stories from her personal journey, which co-author and Métis scholar, Kristy McLeod, helps readers further navigate. Through empathetic truth-telling, this book offers an opportunity to witness, reflect, heal, and be intentional about the seeds we hope to plant for the future, together.

This book is for everyone and invites you to step into a space of reflection on your personal relationship with truth, reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day. 

Co-authors:

Phyllis Webstad is Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band). She comes from mixed Secwepemc and Irish/French heritage, was born in Dog Creek, and lives in Williams Lake, BC. Today, Phyllis is married, has one son, a stepson and five grandchildren. She is the Founder and Ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society, and tours the country telling her story and raising awareness about the impacts of the residential school system. 

Kristy McLeod is a registered Métis with family roots in the Lac St. Anne and Red River Settlements. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction exploring Métis Identity. She was chair of the Education Committee for the Métis Nation of Victoria and a Director at Large on its board since 2021. Her focus in all things she does is to recognize the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of consultation in creating unity.

Size: 8.25" x 5.7"

Pages: 240

Format: Hardcover

Language: English

ISBN: 9781778540684