This National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Marks a Sad and Shocking Time in Canadian History!
How Can We Learn More About the History of Our Indigenous Peoples?
This Day is Also Known as Orange Shirt Day!
I suggest you grab yourself a snack, tea, coffee, or another drink and allow yourself time to really think about what this day means. I HAVE A LOT TO SAY!
“The Canadian Parliament voted unanimously to establish the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as an opportunity for all Canadians to learn more, honour the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities, and remember the many children who never returned home. This day also signifies the intent to reconcile for the horrors of the past”. taken from pm.gc.ca news
The link below is a message from the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. It is worth reading to fully understand the establishment of this National Day!
I often put pictures up of Buddy staring into a book. The book was open with a treat inside (the kids could not see the treat but it made Buddy look so interested in the book). It made him look like he was reading. This is an example without the book just so you could get an idea.
One day, a grade 5 girl was showing a new student around. She stopped at Buddy’s bulletin board and told her all about it. Not knowing I could hear their conversation, I heard the following about me:
Child 1: This is the Principal’s office. He’s really nice.
Child 2 (New student): Yikes, The Principal! Does he yell a lot?
Child 1: No but you do not ever want to have to go in their especially if you were mean to others!
Child 2 (New student): Why not? You said he was nice.
Child 1: He is nice but he always talks. He talks too much! He talks about how we feel when someone does something to us or when we do something to someone else. ALL of us have to go in there. We take turns saying how we felt about what happened.
Child 2 (New student): What does he do after that?
Child 1: He talks more about how important our feelings are. He then talks about kindness and respect. Sometimes he tells a story from his life (they are always long)! He then asks us if anyone has anything to say to each other.
Child 2 (New student): Do you have to apologize? Why not just say sorry then leave.
Child 1: Oh NO!!!! If you just say “sorry”, he asks you what you are sorry for? He asks you to say it out loud looking at the person you are saying sorry to, and meaning it. He always tells us that an apology is about recognizing what you did wrong and the MOST IMPORTANT part is that it like a promise.
Child 2 (New student): A promise?
Child 1: Yes a promise not to do what you did to the other person again. He says that makes the other person feel safe and comfortable that the problem is over. Then he reminds us that we are not here to entertain others and we should go back to class, NOT talk about it, and move on without the problem happening again. Something about dignity. He says if kids ask, just simply say, the problem is solved.
Child 2 (New student): How long are you in there?
Child 1: Until the problem is solved. Sometimes he calls our parents and we have to explain to them why we are there!!
Child 2 (New student): That would be terrible.
Child 1 : Be kind to people, don’t be mean, and don’t do anything that makes you go in his office. Its just that easy! Be KIND!
I knew at that moment that all the time I spent with these kids was worth it. I laughed and laughed but felt so comforted that they UNDERSTOOD what an apology was! It took so much time and caused me to bring much work home but I Loved it!
I only told you this story because at times I wonder if our Indigenous people feel that apologies and reconciliation are heart felt and progress is being made? The Pope came here and apologized to our Indigenous People.
What happens next?
What was the intent of that apology?
What examples do our Indigenous people see us doing to show regret, and understanding?
I see our governments sending out pleas for money to send to various countries that have experienced terrible natural disasters because they need help. I always hear about folks having no electricity and water. Those necessities are critical. I agree that they are BASIC NEEEDS! Look at what Hurricane Fiona did to our Maritime Provinces and how fast help was summoned. WHY IS IT THEN THAT MANY OF OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA STILL DO NOT HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT IT FOR DECADES?
WHY DOES OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SELL WATER FOR PENNIES/LITER TO MAJOR CORPORATIONS? THOSE COMPANIES THEN MAKES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY SELLING THAT SAME WATER BACK TO US IN PLASTIC BOTTLES? Why not offer that water to these communities in pipes rather than non degradable plastic bottles? Joust a thought!
Perhaps our Indigenous people would feel more reconciled if basics were tended to before having to beg for decades. Our Indigenous People have needed help for a long time. Will it finally arrive through this truth and reconciliation process?
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE SOMEHTING POSITIVE FOR YOU ALL!
As as educator, I have seen much curriculum on Canadian History and Native Studies. Sadly, it does not tell the whole story! I think many Canadians recognized this last fall when we discovered how kids were forced away from their families to go to Residential Schools. We all learned that many were assaulted physically and sexually while there. We also learned of thousands of unmarked graves were found containing the bodies of kids who died or were killed there. THESE WERE NOT PROUD DAYS FOR CANADIANS!
I accidentally stumbled upon an opportunity of a lifetime when it came to learning about our Indigenous peoples. I was shocked as I learned more than I ever knew. I purposely am bringing that to you today. The University of Alberta’s Native Studies Faculty put together a free on-line course called Indigenous Canada! See the link below.
https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
This course presented information that I had never known before. As I went through it, I kept wondering why we were never taught this in school. It is not one sided or pro indigenous people. The course actually tells the story from a mutual cohabitation of the country to colonization and the atrocities that happened afterwards. There were many positives of cohabitation as well.
I encourage everyone to look into this course because it can be done very slowly through reading the articles and listening to the videos presented. I am sure it will change your mind on your previous knowledge of Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
I was most impressed by the role women played in Indigenous society and how all that changed with the enactment of the Indian Act. It’s an interesting course and it certainly opened my eyes. I wish our Federal and Provincial governments could get together and make this mandatory learning in schools. An entire high school program about Indigenous learning could be developed. If we all know the truth then I believe we can move forward in this GREAT country, Canada.
In closing, I would like to say that I truly believe our Indigenous Peoples have so much to offer to us. We can work together and create a better society and be very proud of it!
KEEP WALKING!
Thank you for this post, Dan! I am going to follow up the links and find out more about this part of Canada’s history. I am not Canadian, but I love and respect Canada, and my respect is even greater when I see what Canada is doing to redress the wrongs of the past. Every country has shame in its history, but not every country is doing something positive today to address it.
And I love your story about teaching children the meaning of an apology.
Hi Elizabeth
Residential Schools and the “ Indian Act” are dark parts of our past. True Reconciliation will take time but most non-Indigenous Canadians know we have work to do.
I see you are from New Zealand? You are from a beautiful country! I lived in Australia for four years and I always admired what New Zealand had done to right the wrongs of the Maoris. Hopefully, I have not mus understood that.
Kia ora Dan.
Yes, I’m from New Zealand. A lot of work has been done to address the injustices perpetrated against the Māori in the last two centuries, but there is more still to do. I am hopeful that we will continue to work for reconciliation and restitution. Ngā mihi, nā Elizabeth.