--- title: Building Relationships Beyond Orange Shirt Day description: Learn how to respectfully invite Indigenous guests into your classroom, fostering authentic connections and ongoing learning beyond Orange Shirt Day. --- [![musicplay-logo](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/musicplay-logo-2.png?width=2701&height=877&name=musicplay-logo-2.png "musicplay-logo")](http://musicplay.ca) Open main menu Close main menu # Building Relationships Beyond Orange Shirt Day ![Stacy Werner](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/529321003_10171907439470332_5222755718152529359_n.jpg?width=45&name=529321003_10171907439470332_5222755718152529359_n.jpg) [Stacy Werner](https://blog.musicplay.ca/author/stacy-werner) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.musicplay.ca/building-relationships-beyond-orange-shirt-day) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.musicplay.ca/building-relationships-beyond-orange-shirt-day) [Note: This newsletter is best viewed in your browser for full access to all content.](https://blog.musicplay.ca/building-relationships-beyond-orange-shirt-day) ## Guidance on How to Connect with and Invite Indigenous Guests to your Classroom Inviting an Indigenous guest, Elder, Knowledge Keeper, or Cultural Advisor into your classroom can give students an opportunity to learn from authentic voices, knowledge, and perspectives. When planning these visits, it’s important to approach them thoughtfully and with respect for the traditions, protocols, and expectations of your local Indigenous communities. This week, we’re sharing some of the key points from a more detailed resource available on MusicplayOnline about respectfully connecting with and inviting Indigenous guests into your classroom. The full resource provides guidance on building relationships with local Indigenous communities, following appropriate protocols, preparing for a classroom visit, and continuing the learning beyond a single experience. [Full Article Link](https://musicplayonline.com/units-list/orange-shirt-day/) --- ### While every Indigenous community has its own traditions and protocols, there are some important considerations that can help guide you as you begin building these connections: ### 1. Build relationships first. Before inviting someone into your classroom, take time to learn about the Indigenous communities in your area. Know whose traditional territory you live and teach on, attend community events, connect with local organizations and community leaders, and seek guidance from people within the community. If you're unsure where to begin, your local Friendship Centre or another community-based organization may be able to help. ### 2. Be thoughtful about who you invite. Consider what you hope students will learn and find someone whose knowledge and experience connect authentically with that purpose. Indigenous knowledge and experiences are not universal, and one person cannot be expected to speak on behalf of all Indigenous peoples or communities. ### 3. Learn and follow local protocols. Protocols for inviting an Elder, Knowledge Keeper, Cultural Advisor, speaker, or performer may differ between communities. Whenever possible, seek guidance from your local community about the appropriate way to make an invitation, particularly when inviting an Elder or Knowledge Keeper. Plan ahead rather than reaching out at the last minute. ### 4. Prepare your students for the visit. Help students understand who will be visiting, where they are from, and why they have been invited. Establish expectations for showing respect, and make sure students and staff know that they need permission before photographing or recording a guest. ### 5. Plan for appropriate compensation. A guest's time and knowledge should be valued. Ask your local community about appropriate compensation, honoraria, or gifts. If an Elder will be accompanied by a helper, consider how that person should also be included. ### 6. Think beyond a single visit. A classroom visit shouldn't be the end of the learning. Continue to include Indigenous knowledge and perspectives throughout the year, seek out resources created by Indigenous authors and content creators, attend local events, and continue building relationships within your community. ![Screenshot 2026-09-04 at 11.21.07 AM](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-09-04%20at%2011.21.07%20AM.png?width=1184&height=398&name=Screenshot%202026-09-04%20at%2011.21.07%20AM.png) --- ## *Wednesday Webinars are BACK!* ## Winter Performance Ideas and Choral Reading Webinar ## with John Jacobson ## [![Winter Performance Ideas and Choral Reading Webinar with John Jacobson Thumbnail](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Winter%20Performance%20Ideas%20and%20Choral%20Reading%20Webinar%20with%20John%20Jacobson%20Thumbnail.png?width=1000&height=500&name=Winter%20Performance%20Ideas%20and%20Choral%20Reading%20Webinar%20with%20John%20Jacobson%20Thumbnail.png)](https://workshops.musicplay.ca/courses/winter-performance-ideas-and-choral-reading-webinar-with-john-jacobson/) Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 @ 4:30-5:30 MST (60 Minutes) A recorded version will be available if you are unable to watch live.  ## About the Webinar: Join John Jacobson for our webinar on winter performance ideas and choral reading! Explore the choral resources on MusicplayOnline to get your students prepared for your winter performances and celebrate the holiday season! [Webinar Registration Link](https://workshops.musicplay.ca/courses/winter-performance-ideas-and-choral-reading-webinar-with-john-jacobson/)                 --- ## Musicplay Team Updates: We wanted to take the opportunity to share some updates from the team: #### Content Updates: - Notation and lyric slides and videos added to new musical [Kick It](https://musicplayonline.com/units-list/kick-it/?)  - Echo sing videos added to [Solfa Practice Level s,l,t,drmfsl](https://musicplayonline.com/practice/so-la-ti-do-re-mi-fa-so-la-sltdrmfsl/?) - Echo sing videos added to [Solfa Practice Level s,l,t,drmfsltd’](https://musicplayonline.com/practice/so-la-ti-do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do-sltdrmfsltd/?) #### Development Updates: - New Drum Machine interactive - New Staff Lesson bass resources - Support for 2 beat rhythms in Word Rhythm Composition tool - Added the ability to disable student codes  - Navigation now remembers the last open state. - Notifications can now be dismissed more easily ![Stacy Werner](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/529321003_10171907439470332_5222755718152529359_n.jpg?width=150&name=529321003_10171907439470332_5222755718152529359_n.jpg) #### Stacy Werner Stacy Werner is a music specialist with 15 years of experience teaching elementary music in Alberta, Canada. She is the author of the “Super Simple Music Centers” series and the Education Director for Musicplay Online. Trained in Orff and Kodály, she’s committed to ongoing growth as an educator, guided by her mentor, Denise Gagne. ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![](https://blog.musicplay.ca/hubfs/Class%20Rules%20Cover%20(1).png)](https://blog.musicplay.ca/music-room-rules-name-games-and-more) [Blog Posts](https://blog.musicplay.ca/tag/blog-posts) ### [Music Room Rules, Name Games, and more!](https://blog.musicplay.ca/music-room-rules-name-games-and-more) ### **Name Games** There are many great name games in Musicplay, and most are found early in the grade level, because the hardest thing the music teacher needs to do is to... [Denise Gagne](https://blog.musicplay.ca/author/denise-gagne) [Read More](https://blog.musicplay.ca/music-room-rules-name-games-and-more) [Blog Posts](https://blog.musicplay.ca/tag/blog-posts) Classroom Management ### [Get Kids Moving, Learning, Behaving](https://blog.musicplay.ca/get-kids-moving-learning-behaving) | July 24-25, 2017 – **Artie and Denise Workshop #8** in Las Vegas, NV REGISTER online!  [USA teachers](http://shop.musicplaytext1.ihoststores.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=W-43) .                 [Canadian Teachers](http://shop.musicplaytext.ihoststores.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=W-43) | | --- | [Denise Gagne](https://blog.musicplay.ca/author/denise-gagne) [Read More](https://blog.musicplay.ca/get-kids-moving-learning-behaving) #### Our Products - [MusicplayOnline](https://musicplayonline.com) - [Musicplay Store](https://store.musicplay.ca) - [Musicplay Downloads](https://downloads.musicplay.ca) - [Musicplay Workshops](https://workshops.musicplay.ca) - [Musicplay Help](https://help.musicplay.ca) Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Stacy Werner", "url" : "https://blog.musicplay.ca/author/stacy-werner" }, "dateModified" : "2026-09-16T19:29:59.871Z", "datePublished" : "2026-09-16T19:29:59.000Z", "headline" : "Building Relationships Beyond Orange Shirt Day", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.musicplay.ca/building-relationships-beyond-orange-shirt-day", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.musicplay.ca/hubfs/musicplay-logo-2.png" }, "name" : "Themes & Variations Musicplay" } } ```