Join Auburn and Orange Shirt Society founder Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band), to reflect on how Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities reconcile and heal from the history of boarding schools. The Orange Shirt Society was formed to create awareness of the individual, family, and community intergenerational impacts of Indian Residential Schools with the purpose of supporting Indian Residential School Reconciliation and promoting the truth that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.
Join us online via Zoom; the link will be provided upon purchase of tickets.
Phyllis (Jack) Webstad
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. She has now published two books, the “Orange Shirt Story” and “Phyllis’s Orange Shirt” for younger children.
She earned diplomas in Business Administration from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology; and in Accounting from Thompson Rivers University. Phyllis received the 2017 TRU Distinguished Alumni Award for her unprecedented impact on local, provincial, national and international communities through the sharing of her orange shirt story.
2024 Theme: Heal the World
Auburn Theological Seminary's mission is to identify and strengthen leaders—from the pulpit to the public square—to build communities, bridge divides, pursue justice, and heal the world. To amplify its mission, the annual Dean’s lecture series provides a platform for leading religious and faith leaders and scholars to offer wisdom and insights into the world’s most pressing problems. Auburn invites leaders to speak to Auburn’s mission-centered theme.
To address the ongoing violence and trauma from conflicts across the globe, Auburn created partnerships with leaders and organizations engaged in the long work of “healing the world.” In the aftermath of geo-political turmoil, genocide, and the work for civil and human rights, the 2024 lecture series will focus on religious leaders who are healing the world for future generations.
This is the final event in a series of three lectures in 2024, including:
Intended Audience
Presbyterian Minister and Children’s Television host Fred Rogers famously said, “Look for the helpers.” With a similar spirit, Auburn is looking for the healers. Who are those no longer satisfied with diagnosing social violence or participating in the ever-increasing ideological polarization, but are instead interested in healing the world? The dean’s lecture series invites the broader public to learn from and see themselves as healers of a world in need of repair. From students to faith and for-profit leaders who want to heal the world, the lectures are designed to invite us all to imagine a healed and more hope-filled world together.
Each lecture will take place at the Janet Prindle Center for Prophetic Leadership, a 3,000 sq. ft. convening space at Auburn Theological Seminary.
Programming will also be live-streamed online. In-person attendance will be restricted to 75 people.
Auburn has designed these lectures with four main objectives for audience members:
