A local Indigenous family-owned business has created its own Every Child Matters shirt to raise awareness and funds for the Orange Shirt Society.
Shannon Wright is a Gitxsan Hereditary Chief and she co-owns the Pepper Tree Hair Studio with her mother Nyanna Wright, a matriarch who’s traditional seating name is Salaxlilp.
The shirts feature the salon’s logo which was designed by Nyanna and partly illustrated by Gitxsan artist Michelle Stoney.
In 2018, Wright and her mother completely gutted and renovated the salon to turn it into a platform that showcases not only the business but also their rich heritage and culture.
During this period, they also redesigned the salon logo.
“We wanted it to incorporate and encompass who we are as business owners, but more importantly who we are as Indigenous people,” said Wright.
The logo features a tree that also resembles people intertwined together in a circle.
“The people represent family, community, and nations,” said Wright. “The circle means that we're all one because it incorporates everybody and the base of the tree goes into a leaf which represents healing of the nations.”
The circle is also a reference to the Pepper Tree being a Green Circle Salon which means they recycle everything and send as little as possible to the landfill.
“Also as Indigenous people it's important for us to be caretakers of the Earth,” added Wright.
When the news broke in May that the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, Wright and her mother wanted to do something to create awareness.
“My father was forced into residential school and all of his siblings and countless family members and friends, as well. So it really hits home for us — this has been our reality.”
They decided to create an Every Child Matters T-Shirt design using the Pepper Tree’s logo because of the importance of the meaning behind it.
Nyanna then contacted Phyllis Webstad, whose experiences and story inspired the first Orange Shirt Day which is now observed annually on Sept. 30, to have the design officially approved.
“We had her permission to use to use our logo and to make the shirts, but she also said that it was really well thought out and well designed,” explained Wright.
The Pepper Tree is donating 100 per cent of the profits from the sale of the shirts to the Orange Shirt Society and has already sent off three cheques from the sale of the shirts.
“With the support of the community it's been really healing,” added Wright. “It’s been really helpful to just smooth out that roughness that comes from ripping that Band-Aid off from the recoveries of these children.”
Wright says when she sees people wearing Every Child Matters shirts in the community she doesn’t have the words to express how uplifting it is.
“I absolutely love it because for the longest time it wasn't even a discussion and when it was discussed it was very dismissive, you know? Like ‘it's happened a long time ago’ and that wasn't the case. I'm talking about my dad who's just turning 65 on July 2,” explained Wright.
“It really brings a sense of support without someone even having to say it. You could just see someone from a distance at the park — seeing a sea of orange shirts is just so supportive and so healing.”
Wright said she is so thankful people are wearing orange shirts regularly now, and that the legacy of residential schools is being discussed openly.
"Now seeing it is more than a discussion. Now, we're seeing actions involved. I can't even tell you how therapeutic it is."
John Brink, from the Brink Group of Companies, has also purchased $2,015 worth of Every child Matters shirts from the Pepper Tree and will be handing them out to community members for free at 10 a.m. on Canada Day at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.
“You’ve really raised the bar with your generous purchase to spread awareness on residential schools with Every Child Matters. T’ooyaxsi’y niism!” said Wright of Brink’s donation.
T’ooyaxsi’y niism means thank you in Gitxsan.
The Pepper Tree Hair Studio is located at 770 Brunswick Street inside the Coast Inn of The North.
