Global Winnipeg
June 16, 2010
http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/Confronting+pain+residential+schools/3163293/story.html
| Gathering in support |
It's part of a healing process, for native people who say their lives and communities were destroyed when they were forced as children to attend white-run residential schools.
But some residential school survivors say the healing process won't be easy.
"Reconciliation is something the government has to work with, we don't have to work with reconciliation" said Lawrence Twain, a residential survivor who made the trip to Winnipeg from North Bay Ontario to tell his story.
He's one of thousands of residential school survivors attending the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the first event of it's kind in Canada.
Twain was taken way from his mother when he was 5 years old.
"And that was the last time I seen her. They came with a car and then threw me in the car and away I went. " said Lawrence.
Today the Federal Government announced it will scrap the section in the Indian Act that allows the government to set up residential schools and remove native children from their homes.
"The activities that will be shared this week are important opportunities to take an unflinching look at what happened and also renewing our commitment to close this dark chapter in our history." said Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl
The stories are heart breaking but Winnipegers say they are ready to listen.
"I think it's important to understand what happened in our past so we can move forward." said one Winnipeg woman who said she didn't learn about the history of the residential school system until she was in grade 11.
The event runs until Sunday.
For program details and a listing of the events, visit the Truth and Reconciliation website, at www.trcnationalevents.ca.
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