We celebrated the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. It’s also informally known as Orange Shirt Day.  

Although the STU Tommies Women's Rugby team didn't play on September 30, they did not let the importance of the day go unrecognized. Every home game this season, the Tommies’ players will wear orange warmup shirts with a design on the front by local Indigenous artist Brandon Mitchell. 

Each player on the team received a shirt to wear in the warmup, one of two they receive at the start of the year. The remainder, 70 in all, are be sold – $15 each – at home games or through the Tommies’ Instagram account @sturugby. There’s also a donation box set up at the entrance to the games. 

Savannah Simon is a third-year scrum half from Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation, a veteran and co-captain of a young Tommies’ team. Simon is one of five Indigenous members of the team, including assistant coach and equipment manager Hope Metallic and teammates Gracie Waye, Mackenzie Domres, and Vanessa Thompson. 

“Truth and Reconciliation and rugby…combining them both has been amazing,” Simon said. The t-shirts “are a symbol of support,” she said. “It means a lot.” 

Visit gotommies.ca for the full story.