Today we reflect….I have had many people reaching out after the 215 children were found in British Columbia. “What can we do? How can I make a difference?” Today is our opportunity to stop, listen, learn and reflect. There has been history written about our Indigenous Peoples, much of that written by European settlers. In this history, Indigenous people were called many slang names: Savages, Wagon Burners, Squaws, Eskimos, and I could go on. Today, we stop and listen and hopefully I can guide you in learning, learning with me.
I was part of the Sixties Scoop, where I was adopted into a non-Indigenous (wonderful) family. I will be learning alongside of you. I have lost my culture, language, family teachings and have the blessing of being reunited with my blood family on my First Nations Reserve, Alderville.
The picture seen above was given to me by my daughter. Both she and her brother were deeply affected by the learnings of the children found at the residential schools. This is what has prompted me in creating this explorative blog. I have been reading and listening since these findings. This is a very dark part of our Canadian history and I have had to take many breaks and have shed many tears while doing so. I caution you to know that some of my writing will be exploring some very sad and dark stories, but to learn, we must listen.
Please contact me, comment here as to how you are feeling, what you would like to know more about.
miigwech,
Chris
Hi Chrissie, I’ve been reading your blog on the missing children etc. I recently met a white woman who told me stuff I can’t even share; she worked in a residential school. Keep up your work in exposing these stories. I will be visiting my son John on the Meander River reserve as soon as Covid is over and I intend to visit some of the residential school survivors and writing up their stories. Also my daughter Melody has a birth half brother I’m in contact with. I’m pretty sure he would say he would have liked to have been adopted and valued as a person. My son John’s brother and sister have said so to me as well. Sad but true. Single moms who were treated like dirt, had children and didn’t have the support to raise their kids as their parents were a mess too. Enough negative words. It’s so exciting to see how well you’ve done and how you are making a difference; there’s so much to be done but we can only be kind and supportive to one at a time. Marilyn.
So kind of you to say! It’s been tough reading and listening but so many have asked me to share….. so here I am. I’m so glad we are all back together, albeit online, it’s all we have for now.