Residential Schools in Spotlight

Lethbridge Herald
October 7, 2013

http://lethbridgeherald.com/news/local-news/2013/10/residential-schools-in-spotlight/

Caroline Zentner

lethbridge herald

czentner@lethbridgeherald.com

Survivors of Indian residential schools will get the opportunity to share their experiences at a hearing tour called Share Your Truth.

Part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the hearing on Wednesday and Thursday of this week is open to survivors and anyone affected by the residential schools legacy. The public is also invited to attend to give those interested the opportunity to learn about and bear witness to the impact of the residential school system.

“It’s really an ideal opportunity to share your experiences for the future or the existing generations and also for the non-aboriginal population to know about what had happened in the residential schools,” said Jackie Red Crow, who’s with the Blood Tribe Department of Health.

Survivors will be able to make public or private statements about their experiences. If the survivor wishes, statements can be recorded and stored long-term at the University of Manitoba.

Red Crow said listening to people talk about their residential school experiences will help create awareness among Canadians.

“There is very little or no mention of the history of residential schools in our school curriculum,” Red Crow said. “It’s really a good opportunity for our survivors to share the truth.”

The Blood Reserve had two residential schools, St. Mary’s run by the Catholic church and St. Paul’s, run by the Anglican church. St. Cyprian school in Brocket was also operated by the Anglican church.

“In addition to the private and public statements there’ll be healing circles so that will give anybody . . . an opportunity to share in a group their experiences and how they’re moving forward,” she said.

Red Crow said Theo Fleury is expected to make a presentation Wednesday and health support workers will be available on site. People can also use the church listening circles that will be present.

“Survivors or anybody that attended residential school will have an opportunity to get, I guess, a personal apology,” Red Crow said.

To balance the intensity of the day’s events, an evening of entertainment has been scheduled for Wednesday. Michelle Thrush, an actor on APTN’s Blackstone, will perform a play called ‘Finding Your Inner Elder.’ Local performers will also entertain.

The hearing wraps up Thursday evening with a play at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod. The play about residential schools was co-written by Ramona Big Head and her son Carl.

The hearing tour is one of several being held in the lead up to a national event in Edmonton scheduled for March. The event is free and Red Crow expects at least 200 people will attend. Wilton Littlechild, a Truth and Reconciliation commission member, will also be at the conference.

The ‘Share Your Truth’ hearing tour is sponsored by the Blood Tribe Department of Health Indian Residential School Program.