An Update from Orca: Allyship as Action

We are sorry to say the first printing of Allyship as Action: Seven Ways to Advocate for Others has some mistakes in it.

The first printing of the book included:

An image of an orange shirt with the phrase "Every Child Matters", used without permission. This phrase is a copyrighted design associated with the work of Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Society.

A reference to Phyllis Webstad's personal story, shared without prior consultation or approval.

Given that the book is about allyship these mistakes are especially serious. Using cultural and intellectual property without consent, particularly from an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, contradicts the values we aim to promote in the book and as a company.

We have reached out to the Orange Shirt Society to apologize and open a conversation about revisions and permission. In the meantime we have made some changes and are reprinting the book.

We take full responsibility for this error. It should not have happened. Like the book says, sometimes allyship is uncomfortable and we don't always get it right. Learning and making amends is the only way forward.

About Orca Book Publishers

Orca acknowledges that the area in which we work is occupied by people, ourselves included, who are largely not indigenous to this area. We live and work within the Traditional Territories of the Lkwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and WSÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) Peoples. We are grateful for the natural beauty and resources we have access to and aim, through the books we publish, to play a part in raising readers and citizens who will have a great understanding of our history and this land. Learn more about Orca Book Publishers.