In photos: Orange Shirt Day

Local events for annual day that honors Indigenous children taken to residential schools conclude Wednesday at Zach Gordon Youth Center

From left: brothers Leland Demmert, 15, Leon Demmert, 19, Sam Sheakley, 16, and Dakota Demmert, 7, dance with the Yées Ḵu.Oo–Shu Gyed dance group during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. Hana’ackm Ggoadm ‘Tsoal Naomi Leask, a member of the coalition organizing the gathering, said the event was important to raise awareness of boarding school history in the community. “It’s an important part of the healing process,” Leask said. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Tia Christopherson prepares herring eggs during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

The Woosh.Ji.Een Dance Group leads an opening song at the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. “Those who passed away were forbidden to practice this,” said Xeetli.éesh Lyle James, who led the song and then invited everyone in the room to dance. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Patricia Dennis, 8, makes a button during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. “Their great-great-grandmother attended Sheldon Jackson…so this day hits hard for me because if it wasn’t for our grandparents we wouldn’t be here,” said Dennis’s grandmother, Marion Carman. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Heather Evoy speaks during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Elizabeth Anderson, left, helps Maddy Cook, 14, decorate a shirt with Anderson’s design during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Matthew Quinto, traditional games specialist with Tlingit & Haida, hosts a traditional games room during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Davina Cole, center, dances with the Yées Ḵu.Oo–Shu Gyed dance group during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Consuelo Demmert, left, and Ami Gibb hug after Cole performed with the Yées Ḵu.Oo–Shu Gyed dance group during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Talia Nasiah, 7, tends to a bird after it flew inside the building during the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)

Hana’ackm Ggoadm ‘Tsoal Naomi Leask holds a grief circle at the end of the Orange Shirt Day event, in remembrance of Indigenous children who were forced to attend boarding schools, hosted by the Haa Tóoch Lichéesh Coalition at Zach Gordon Youth Center on Sept. 30, 2026. Traditional foods, plant medicine, shirt printing, singing, dancing, traditional games, and other activities were part of the offerings at the event, which was created as a space to heal, grieve and celebrate. (Marlena Sloss / For the Juneau Independent)