Namwayut: we are all one. Truth and reconciliation in Canada | Canada is ...

Summary

In this emotional recount, Chief Robert Joseph reflects on his harrowing experience in a Canadian residential school. Taken from his Indigenous community at six years old, he describes the trauma of cultural erasure, segregation, and the devastating impact on his sense of identity. He shares how these schools sought to destroy Indigenous culture, leading many survivors into addiction and violence. However, Joseph emphasizes the significance of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the national apology, offering hope for healing and a shared, prosperous future for all Canadians.

Takeaways

• 👦 Residential schools forcibly took Indigenous children at a young age, often separating them from their families.
• 😨 The experience in these schools was traumatic, including dehumanizing practices like shaving heads and dousing children in chemicals.
• 🚻 Boys and girls were segregated, and even small interactions like waving to a sibling could result in punishment.
• 🌍 The schools aimed to erase Indigenous identity by targeting their language, culture, and spiritual beliefs.
• 🏞️ Before residential schools, Indigenous children like the speaker lived in harmony with nature, relying on the land and sea for sustenance.
• 💔 After years in these schools, many Indigenous people, including the speaker, suffered long-term trauma, leading to struggles with addiction and violence.
• 📅 Over 150,000 children were affected by residential schools, which operated for over a century, with the last one closing in 1996.
• 🇨🇦 The legacy of residential schools and the Indian Act had been largely ignored in Canadian history until recent efforts at acknowledgment.
• ⚖️ The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report revealed Canada's role in cultural genocide, leading to national recognition of the harms done.
• 🤝 There is now a collective effort toward healing and moving forward, with Indigenous peoples and Canadians working together for a more equitable future.

Q & A

What was Chief Robert Joseph's experience when he first arrived at the residential school?

Chief Robert Joseph recalls feeling very afraid as he walked toward the residential school with his mother. Upon arrival, he and other children were herded into showers, their bodies were painted with a white liquid, and their hair was cropped and doused in kerosene, which was traumatizing for him.

How were boys and girls treated at the residential school?

Boys and girls were segregated at the residential school. Chief Robert Joseph mentioned that if he was caught waving at his sister, there would be punishment. This separation prevented the development of normal social skills among the children.

What impact did residential schools have on Indigenous people's spiritual and religious practices?

The churches lobbied hard to convert Indigenous people, labeling them as heathens and pagans. They targeted Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge, seeking to eliminate the connections Indigenous people had to their history and identity.

Where did Chief Robert Joseph live before attending the residential school, and how did his community sustain itself?

Chief Robert Joseph lived in a place called Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis, now known as Gilford Island. His community harvested animals from the forest and ocean for sustenance, including whales, mink, and fish, and had a deep connection to the environment.

What were the long-term effects of residential schools on many of the children who attended them?

Many children, including Chief Robert Joseph, left the schools feeling broken. As a result, they struggled with addictions, alcoholism, and violence. The experience had lasting negative effects on their mental and emotional well-being.

How long did the residential school system last in Canada, and how many children were affected?

The residential school system in Canada lasted over 100 years, affecting more than 150,000 Indigenous children. The last residential school closed in 1996 in Saskatchewan.

Why did most Canadians not know about the legacy of residential schools or the challenges Indigenous people faced?

Chief Robert Joseph stated that for a long time, the history of residential schools and the intent of the Indian Act were ignored. This lack of awareness contributed to the chronic challenges facing Aboriginal people today.

What was the significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, and how did Chief Robert Joseph react to it?

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report brought attention to the harms inflicted on Indigenous people by residential schools. Chief Robert Joseph was present when Justice Murray Sinclair denounced Canada for committing cultural genocide. Hearing the Prime Minister apologize in the House of Commons moved him to tears.

How does Chief Robert Joseph view the future of reconciliation in Canada?

Chief Robert Joseph believes that Truth and Reconciliation is Canada. He sees it as a shared responsibility between Indigenous people and Canadians, working together toward a more equal and prosperous future for everyone.

What makes Canada unique in its response to the residential school legacy?

Canada is the only Western country that has had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This signifies a national effort to confront and address the country's shared history of harm against Indigenous people and move toward reconciliation.