A new book written by Phyllis Webstad, the founder of Orange Shirt Day, aimed at introducing young children to its significance, is the latest publication from Medicine Wheel Publishing whose mission is to amplify and protect Indigenous voices and build cultural bridges.
“My three-year-old granddaughter was the inspiration for this new book,” said Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc author from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation and a Residential School Survivor.
Webstad, the creator behind the Every Child Matters national movement in Canada, recently released Today is Orange Shirt Day, the latest in a series of children’s books about cultural identity. This edition, written by Webstad and designed by Coast Salish illustrator Natassia Davies, is a brightly illustrated, gentle, touch-and feel book with a tactile mirror page. It aims to plant the seed of cultural understanding of Indigenous issues and inclusivity from an early age.
Phyllis Webstad
“This book is part of a broader effort to create age-appropriate content that helps people connect with their heritage and values of recognition,” said Teddy Anderson, the owner of Medicine Wheel Publishing, who supported Webstad with her latest book.
This aligns with Medicine Wheel’s goal to honour and highlight Indigenous voices and build cultural bridges to advance reconciliation in Canada.
Not Indigenous himself, Anderson is of Persian, English, Scottish and Norwegian descent. He has grown up partly in Rwanda as well as in and around Indigenous peoples in Canada — bringing him perspective about the value of cultural interconnections. “I have a unique view between many cultures, and today I am trying to build a bridge,” said Anderson.
And that’s exactly what Anderson’s aim is with his publishing company, a business he admits he fell into by accident.
Today is Orange Shirt Day book cover
“I used to offer educational performances, that included doing traditional hoop dancing in schools, which took me to 20 countries,” an experience Anderson describes as humbling. “In my presentation I talked about how we're all connected as one human family through teachings of the circle. But I noticed how many teachers were terrified of Indigenous culture and that fear was almost crippling."
He also said he witnessed first-hand how Elders were selling the rights to their stories without even knowing it.
“Publishers were actually taking stories right out of Indigenous hands. It's very complex… so I tried to create a system where we help protect Indigenous stories and storytellers, but also empower teachers to be able to teach culture and build that bridge,” he said.
He felt he had to do something. In 2014, he created Medicine Wheel Publishing. It’s not just a publishing house, he explained, it's a movement aimed at fostering reconciliation and amplifying voices. "We’re trying to be the best ally we can be, going above and beyond in every relationship, with a cultural, not business, handshake."
The company’s mission is to support Indigenous authors, many of whom are oral storytellers unfamiliar with the traditional publishing process. "Some haven’t even written their stories. We transcribe them with their permission, ensuring their words are preserved and shared," he said.
Medicine Wheel Publishing’s aim is also to educate and inform in creative ways. For example, it distributes a board game which teaches the history and realities of Truth and Reconciliation in a creative way. "It’s not just about winning; it’s about learning," he said. The game, which includes role-playing elements that simulate the challenges of surviving assimilation, is intended to be both educational and emotionally impactful.
Anderson recalled an encounter at a booth where a white man was brought to tears while flipping through Phyllis Webstad’s book, The Orange Shirt Story. “He somehow recognized his own discriminatory ways, even though he had Indigenous grandchildren himself,” he said.
Such stories of new awareness inspire hope, but Anderson said he also faces resistance from those who still deny the painful history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
“Part of being allies is to push back against the racism and the bigotry that still exists. I think we do it just by continuing to publish books and share the culture,” he said. “We have to remain firm in our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, even in the face of denialism.”
Selecting the right authors and stories for Medicine Wheel Publishing is a careful process. Authors often reach out directly and their works are reviewed by an Elders and Teachers council that advises on cultural sensitivities.
"We want to ensure that the content is respectful and appropriate, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like trauma," Anderson notes. The selection process is rigorous, with a preference for authors who are Indigenous or have a deep connection to Indigenous communities.
He says Webstad’s ability to be both kind and straight forward in her storytelling is what has made her such a changemaker.
“I think when she speaks, she speaks from the heart. It's very powerful and it truly comes through in her books. It's very obvious that it's coming from a place of inviting people into the conversation, and she's done a lot of healing work herself,” he said.
Scotiabank is supporting Indigenous storytelling by working with authors like Webstad.
The Bank expects to donate more than 2,500 copies of her new book to preschools and daycares across Canada. Anderson said the demand was so high that the books had all been claimed in less than three hours.
“A huge thank you to Scotiabank for helping to get my book into the hands of families who will begin teaching children about what happened to us,” said Webstad. “Scotiabank is an ally and by distributing these books, they are actively participating in truth and reconciliation in this country.”
These books will be distributed ahead of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. “By distributing these experiential storybooks to young children, we hope to connect them and their caregivers with the history of Canada in a way they can engage with and understand," said Meigan Terry, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability, Social Impact and Communications Officer at Scotiabank.
“Scotiabank is proud to support Phyllis Webstad to help increase access to Indigenous stories, as a generational step in developing truth-based learning as a foundation for advancing towards reconciliation.”
Looking ahead, Anderson envisions a future where Indigenous stories continue to fill the gaps in Canadian literature.
"There’s a hunger for these stories," he said, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed publishing practices that support authors emotionally throughout the process. Medicine Wheel Publishing hopes to be an incubator for Indigenous voices, offering a safe space for authors to share their stories.
For those looking to get published, Anderson’s advice is simple: "Step in and explore. We’re here to help you tell your story if that feels good to you."
He emphasized the importance of cultural connection and authenticity in storytelling, urging aspiring authors to seek guidance from their communities and elders.
For those wanting to be better allies, Anderson said he has witnessed the power of storytelling to transform lives.
"Seeing people embrace allyship with greater humility, and often through tears, is incredibly rewarding," he reflected. “Just explore, be here to explore these Indigenous stories and the rich cultural heritage they represent.”
