“'We’re all talking about reconciliation and what it means to reconcile,' she says, 'but we don’t even understand the truth yet.'” —Michelle Cyca for The Walrus
And what about the evil practice of seizing children to assimilate them?
"As to residential schools, they existed in Canada long before Confederation and were voluntarily attended. Macdonald’s government did build 185 day schools and 20 residential schools largely in compliance with its obligations under the Western Treaties, but attendance was voluntary at both during his lifetime."
Catholic Church representatives were before the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples Nov. 7 to provide information on the transfer of records pertaining to the children who attended residential schools.
Two weeks ago, Senators were shocked to hear of the barriers that were being put up from accessing those records, but the committee didn’t seem too eager to push the matter.
“Who specifically asks for a 21-year NDA? Who within their organization needs to die within that 21 years that is being protected?” — Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Musqua-Culbertson
“Disturbing”, “appalling”, “shocking,” “incomprehensible”. Yep, all those words were used by Canadian senators to describe stonewalling by the Catholic Church in the effort to collect residential school records from the entity.
Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Musqua-Culbertson didn’t mince words when she testified before the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples.
I find it horrifying that I have a "genocide" tag in my evernote archive. But it's real, it happens all over 😭 and we must not look away.
For example:
There is no residential schools "mass graves media hoax". There are hundreds (thousands?) of unmarked, unrecorded childrens' graves. Hundreds have been identified, and the search continues.
It was a genocide. We need to name that, as a starting point.
"Over 150,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit children attended Indian Residential Schools and although the official records are incomplete, it is estimated that thousands of children died at those schools."
Another important event that happened in #PortAlberni last week in relation to the #NationalDayofTruthandReconciliation was the raising of the Residential School survivors flag along with the raising of the Canadian flag to full mast. The Canada flag had been at half mast at all Schools in the local district since 2021 when Kamloops announced the discovery of graves. It was kept at half mast locally to respect the same search that was ongoing at the Alberni Residential School site.
"For School District 70 (SD 70), the survivors flag now has a permanent home among their schools.
“This flag will be here for eternity,” said Tim Davie, SD 70 superintendent, “recognizing the work that’s also taking place in terms of moving forward and reconciliation across the district.””
"Jeff Cook, a former student at the Alberni Indian Residential School, and his granddaughter Saryta Dick, a Grade 8 student at ADSS, were asked to raise the survivors flag.”
When author Wanda John-Kehewin worked in the Ministry of Children and Families she would hear children going into care ask the same questions she asked when she was in care, like ‘Why is my mom not here?’
Not hearing any answers still, John-Kehewin decided to write a book for young adults to provide them.
Today is the day when Canadians are called to reflect on the horrors of the #ResidentialSchools and the importance of reconciling with #FirstNations.
There were two general classes of horror with the schools:
a) Children were forced away from their parents, and brought to places where they were taught to reject their heritage, an act of cultural genocide.
b) Places with vulnerable children attract predators, so sexual and physical abuse were common at the schools.
The #Senate Committee on #Indigenous Peoples was back interviewing witnesses from organizations that have not yet released all records relating to Indian #residentialschools.
And a ‘disconnect’ was observed between what the committee heard in March with witnesses saying records were being withheld and from what witnesses were saying now, that everyone was working hard to provide all the records as quickly as possible.
True Story Part Two continues to educate audiences about the often-troubled past Indigenous people have experienced with colonial powers in Canada.
From the creation of the Indian Act through the residential school and sixties scoop eras, to the White Paper and the statement of regret from a Catholic pope, True Story doesn’t shy away from asking the question, is reconciliation even possible?
This year marks 50 years since the Alberni Indian Residential School was closed. It was closed because of action by First Nations people here themselves, with the leadership of George Watts. Many other schools remained open for many more years. And the main buildings weren't demolished until 2009.
The National Centre for #Truth and #Reconciliation and the #Aboriginal Peoples Television Network will host a 90-minute multilingual #commemoration event on #Parliament Hill Sept. 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Happening now in the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials https://www.facebook.com/OSIBISinfo?mibextid=nW3QTL: First Nations chiefs outlining the way their communities are leading searches in their territories.
Chief Ken Watts of Tseshaht First Nations (Port Alberni BC) applauds the many non-indigenous Canadians who have reached out to help.
Principal message coming out of panel of Chiefs overseeing searches: the ultimate objective of finding the bodies of children who died in #residentialschools must be justice. Much discussion about taking a case to the UN to ensure the government of Canada is held accountable - including by Grand Chief of the Quebec Cree Mandy Gull-Masty #indigenous#firstnations#wearestillhere#landback
on PBS Newshour tonight, a report on USA boarding schools for "indians" to get them to assimilate. Canada was not the only one. Which reminds me, any progress on the issue in Canada? Seems like politicians burried the story to get rid of it.
@jfmezei We should have a special prosecutor and dedicated investigators to bring to justice those guilty of physical and sexual abuse, and those who negligently permitted the abuse, while they're still alive.
While the journey may be a long one, the destination—healing from trauma—is achievable.
That’s the core message from James Bay Cree residential school survivors who share their experiences of the institutions and the impact they had upon their lives.
This first volume of recovery stories provides medicine to others who were harmed by that system and offers paths to healing from it.