Imagine: more
than 150 000 children kidnapped from their families; taken kilometers from
their homes and incarcerated in cement buildings, infested with diseases and
physical and sexual abuse; being taught that they, and their families, were not
human.
It sounds like a
Saw movie, but this was the reality
for 80% of Aboriginal children in Canada, who were coerced into the Canadian
Residential School System, from as early as Canada’s creation in 1867 until the
last residential school closed in 1998.
Assimilation was
the backbone of the Residential School System. It was purposely designed to
“kill the Indian to save the man”; as if to be human you could not be
Aboriginal. These intentions were public and clear: “all the Indian there is in
the race should be dead”. This propaganda has been argued no different than that of
the Third Reich.
The sexual and
physical violence that plagued the Canadian Residential School System is
perhaps the most well-known consequence of the Residential School System. The
effects of this abuse still reverberate throughout the Aboriginal community. Over
the past couple of months, new atrocities have come to our attention.
Aboriginal students of the system were purposely subjected to experiments on
the effects of withholding
nutrition. These examples are only a snapshot of the horrific treatments afflicted
on Aboriginal children.
In 2007, former
residential school students won a class action suit against the federal government.
It forced the feds to officially recognize the scars of the residential school
system. During the investigation, it became evident that there needed to be a
forum for sharing common experiences and for a shared healing journey, between
Canadian Aboriginal community members and between Canadians of European
descent.
The Truth and
Reconciliation Commission was initiated as the platform for this
communication. It was also designed to bring public awareness to the issues and
to create a “comprehensive historical record” about Canada’s darkest chapter.
It is held in various communities around Canada throughout the year.
This week
(September 16-22) Vancouver has officially declared “Reconciliation Week”. The
week will begin with lighting the Fire of Reconciliation at Ambleside Beach,
followed by an All Nations Canoe Gathering. The rest of the week will be dedicated
to the sharing and learning of survivors’ stories. The week concludes with a Walk
for Reconciliation, introduced by key-note speaker, Dr. Bernice King,
daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the 50th year since the
delivery of his “I have a dream” speech.
I could write 10
000 words about Residential Schools (and I have… I wrote my thesis on them…),
but I think that I will leave the stories of history, hurt and healing up to
you to discover. As a Canadian of European descent, it is easy to sit back on
my privilege and chalk it all up to “good intentions” and stereotypes. Perhaps
it is a bit of guilt, but I am so tired of hearing “they should get over it”. When
we consider the residual effects that still plague our society today, like the “Highway of Tears”, the “Stolen
Sisters”, and the disproportional high
rates of incarceration, we know that the targeted racism and hatred is not
forgotten and not something “to get over”.
I hope that
everyone takes advantage of the opportunities that Reconciliation Week offers.
For all Canadians to move towards forgiveness and inclusivity, we need
education and understanding. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “We cannot walk
alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead”. This is a journey we need to take together.
- Lisa
