Today is National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in Canada. This is the first year that, as a country, we officially honour the Indigenous children who lived through the residential schools and remember those who never made it out. There were so many.
How do you begin to grasp the magnitude of all these children’s stories? As a mother, it is unthinkable to imagine someone taking my babies away. But think about we must to start the process of undoing the past. It can’t be done all at once, but we can start with one story.
Orange Shirt Day
Since 2013, September 30 has been Orange Shirt Day in Canada. Orange Shirt Day stemmed from the true story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, and the orange shirt that her grandmother bought for her and she proudly wore when she was sent to a residential school.
Upon arrival at the school, the treasured orange shirt was taken away along with everything else that mattered to her. Orange shirt day honours Phyllis and every other Indigenous child who was taken from their family and stripped of their identity.
Phyllis’ story brought to light the unbearable reality of Indigenous children in Canada. The recognition of Orange Shirt Day started a dialog. It was one of the important catalysts for what is continuing to unravel today.
The Uncovering of the Big Truth
On May 27, 2021 the unmarked graves of 215 children were uncovered outside of a former residential school in Kamloops BC. In the following months, thousands more mass, unmarked graves were reported across Canada. It is with intention that I use the word “uncovered” not “discovered” as many news agencies have. As the Indigenous peoples have pointed out, they have always known that the graves existed. They just weren’t listened to.
It was a harsh awakening for the rest of Canada and a hard truth to accept. How do I even begin to address the questions my own kids were asking about what they were hearing? I couldn’t answer why. Shame swallowed me up as I realized I didn’t know more than the most basic facts about the residential school program.
I felt overwhelmed and wanted to do something, but this had been going on for a long, long time. It is still going on. Though residential schools are no longer operating in Canada (the last one only closed in 1997!!) the long-lasting damage of the horrors Indigenous children endured is still very much unresolved.
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) is home to many residential school survivors still searching for a way out of the nightmares. The trauma and feelings of abandonment and not belonging anywhere has led many survivors to find solace and community on the DTES streets.
I worked at a modern office adjacent to the DTES for several years. I saw many things that were hard to process. There was so much I didn’t know then and for that blind eye, I am sorry. It will take time to unravel, and probably never fully will. But I can try. I — everyone — can start with listening.
Education is the Path Toward Reconciliation
Education was the thing that got us into this mess; let’s use education to start turning it around. I decided to educate myself through stories. I take a deep breath as I admit how hard the stories are to hear and to read. Sometimes I had to pause and walk away to be able to come back and be able to absorb it all.
I listened to podcasts, the news, and audiobooks. I read non-fiction books and fiction-novels based on true stories. It has helped me come closer to understanding and helped me to know that I can never truly understand but I can listen. We all can listen.
Some of the books I read or have on my list to read include:
Adult Books
- Five Little Indians, by Michelle Good
- Beyond the Orange Shirt Story, by Phyllis Webstad
- Johnny Appleseed, by Joshua Whitehead
- From the Ashes, by Jesse Thistle
- Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Children’s Books
- The Orange Shirt Story: The True Story of Orange Shirt Day, by Phyllis Webstad
- When We Were Alone, by David A. Robertson
There are many more stories out there that I want to take in. Stories have the power to take us into worlds we have not experienced nor likely ever will but can evoke the kind of raw emotions that can create systemic, lasting change. It starts with not talking. I am listening.
Perspectively Yours 