My journey towards truth and reconciliation has been one that carried many emotions. By listening, watching, and reading about the heartbreaking history our country carries on its back it has brought many feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, and so many more. Anyone can say that what happened in residential schools was bad, but until actual stories about what happened in residential schools are listen to no one really knows how bad they actual were. That is why it is so important for us to listen to the truth of what actually went on, and stop denying our history. We need to get rid of the discrimination against our own people, and restore the relationship between indigenous people and us. If we listen, watch, and retell the truths of what occurred in residential schools we can start to help our people heal for the better.
On a path to reconciliation one of the first things that needs to be looked at is the truth behind what happened. One of the first things I thought about when I started my journey was some of the information I looked at in my education. It was clear that it was important to learn about residential schools starting at a young age, however, we do not really look at it much when we are younger. It was not until I was in grade ten that I can remember really taking a deeper look into what happened in residential schools. One of the first stories I remember listen to was that of Joseph Auguste Merasty when we read The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir. I remember reading about the trauma he went through and the abuse he faced in all types of ways; it was heartbreaking. When I learned about the creation of the witness blanket it amazed me; it made me wonder how something so beautiful could be created out of history that was so horrible. Every piece within the blanket tells a story about all the miss treatment and abuse that happened in residential schools. Then I heard why it was made and it made sense. They all want us to watch, listen, and retell their stories so people will truthy understand what they went through and how it continues to affect generation after generation. By watching videos such as “Every Child Matters: Truth-Act One” I got to learn of the legacy left behind by residential schools. That around 150, 000 indigenous children were separated from their families and that thousands of these children died and are still missing from being buried in unmarked graves. These schools were set up “To kill the Indian in the child” so indigenous people would fit in better in the white society. So much of their culture was taken from them and after leaving the schools they did not know how to cope with the trauma which caused many to fall to things such as addictions or suicide. However, many people want their stories told so they can start to rebuild their culture for the younger generations to come, and in order to do this more of us need to be more willing listen to tell the truth and retell their stories.
When some students were asked what they believe reconciliation is in Truth and Reconciliation what is it about? they described it as “The restoration of the relationship between a group or person that was wronged and the group or person that wronged them” (15). This is exactly what I believe reconciliation is. After we learn to truth about what happened in residential schools we need to be willing to help share those stories, and work together to repair the past. When I visited the Legacy of Hope website and reading Truth and Reconciliation what is it about? it taught me quite a bit about why reconciliation matter. It affected so many generations and before residential schools were created indigenous people were thriving and contributed to what is now Canada. Of course, anyone who experienced what they did they would have the same impacts they do. Even though residential schools are closed indigenous people are facing racism, discrimination, living in poverty, adequate housing, nonequal funding for education, or health care. It’s important to work towards reconciliation because it’s our countries past, and if we do not learn it history is doomed to repeat itself with all the hatred that exists between our people. A lot of people do not know what happened in residential schools and because of that do not know how to teach the younger generations about it, but as stated by Charlene Bearhead in a video about reconciliation we are not expected to be experts on this topic. We are to learn with our students, and share what we know. Every little bit of information that we learn and continue to teach will improve the future, restore relationships, and bring back indigenous culture.
When creating my aesthetic piece, I wanted it to represent what I learned but also play a part in what I want to do in my journey towards reconciliation. A story that had really suck with me on this journey is that of Phyllis Webstad the creator of orange shirt day. She had a brand-new orange shirt that her grandmother had bought her for the first day of school taken away from her and never seen again. This made me think about all of the thing children must have had taken away from them on their first day when they were so excited to go to school. They had no idea what was in store for them at these schools. That is why I wanted to incorporate the orange shirt into my drawing. In my drawing I have a child’s hand gripping an orange, and the shirt is being stretched as if it is being taken away just like Phyllis’. Within this orange shirt I have a traditional dancer and a dreamcatcher drawn in the colours of the medicine wheel to represent some of the indigenous culture. The entire idea behind it was to represent all the things that were taken away from these people in residential schools. As the shirt is taken way so is their culture, language, family, hope, and so much more. Their entire life was taken away from them, and we as Canadians need to find a way to make things better from them. In my future I was to learn more about the stories, and incorporate it into my teachings to educate the younger generations about what happen. Children have their own way of understanding information like this. They are just as capable of learning about residential schools as adults are, if not more. If we educate children when they are young chances are they will grow up to be more willing to change the ongoing issues indigenous people are facing. I want to make a difference so history does not repeat itself.
On my journey towards reconciliation I have learned so much new information. So may new stories of survivors were heard in this process that truly unveiled some of the horrible things that occurred within residential schools. So many stories will stick with me for the rest of my life of all the things that were taken from them. I was also taught why it is so important for us to help indigenous people in their healing process. As well as ways for us to help, even if it is as simple as sharing their stories for younger generations can be educated on our country’s history. Everything I learned is important, and I intend on using what I have learned in my future as an educator to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
