Truth Commission Begins Saskatchewan Hearings

CBC News
January 16, 2012

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2012/01/16/sk-truth-reconciliation-regina.html

[with video]

Former residential school students in Saskatchewan can share their stories with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the next few months.

The commission, which is gathering stories from aboriginal people across Canada about the residential schools experience, began community hearings in Regina on Monday.

The Regina hearings, which run until Wednesday, allow former students to talk about what they went through at the church-run, government-funded schools.

Many have talked about the forced cultural assimilation — and, in some cases, abuse — they experienced at residential schools.

Similar hearings will be held in 11 other communities across Saskatchewan in the months leading up to the commission's third national event in Saskatoon from June 21 to 24.

The other community hearing locations and dates are:

• Key First Nation: Jan. 20-22
• Prince Albert: Jan. 31 to Feb. 2
• Pelican Narrows: Feb. 13-14
• Stony Rapids: Feb. 16-17
• Onion Lake: April 3-5
• Fort Qu'Appelle: May 14-15
• Buffalo Narrows: May 17-18
• La Ronge: June 5-7