1. Walking the Path Towards Reconciliation
Presenter:
Nancy Hamer Strahl FNMI Facilitator DDSB
Sylvia Smith TRC Honourary Witness

2. We would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of new Credit First Nation

3. Truth and reconciliation

4. TRC #62
Truth & Reconciliation Commission Recommendation #62: Education
62) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to:
Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary
contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.

5. Learning Goal: Success Criteria:
Increase awareness of the Truth and Reconciliation call to action through social justice opportunities and help develop a culture of pride and confidence at your school.
Success Criteria:
Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation and social justice opportunities.

6. Three parts
Hidden History
The Hope
A Fresh Approach

7. What the authorities did not understand
That Indigenous nations had sophisticated systems of education, justice, governance, “religion” spirituality, politics and gender equity.
That there was great diversity within First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and diversity was honoured.
That individual autonomy, avoidance of using force, and use of non-coercive strategies were hallmarks of Indigenous educational communities.

8. Duncan Campbell Scott:1924
“It’s no secret that children die in the schools at a higher rate than they would in the villages. However, this is not a reason for a change in the policy of the government, which is proceeding to the final solution of the Indian problem.”

9. Imagine laws which meant

10. You and all the children in your community will be taken from your parents, by force if necessary.
You will be put in a cattle wagon and sent to a distant location for 10 months of the year.
Your family will not be allowed to visit you.
Your school will be far away from the people you know and love.
You cannot speak your language or practice your cultural traditions, or you will be punished.

11. You will be given new names or a number because your name is savage.
You will be forced to work long hours.
You will be hungry most of the time.
If you are a girl, you will be separated from your brother(s) and vice versa.
You will not receive letters or gifts from your family.
Your letters home will be censored.

12. Survivor Facts
Physical and sexual abuse were found in 90% of claims to the Residential Schools Settlement adjudicators.
There are over 80,000 people alive today who attended residential schools.
A high percentage of Aboriginal students in your school are almost certainly grandchildren of RS survivors.

13. The Legacy Alcohol and drug abuse
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effect (FAE)
Sexual abuse (past and ongoing)
Physical abuse (past and ongoing; especially, but not exclusively, of women and children)
Suicide (and the threat of suicide)
Teen pregnancy

14. Chronic, widespread depression
Chronic, widespread rage and anger
Parenting issues such as emotional coldness, rigidity, neglect, poor communications and abandonment
Psychological/emotional abuse
Dysfunctional families and interpersonal relationships

15. The Hardest Part Death Toll
tuberculosis was endemic in hastily built, poorly heated, over-crowded schools
malnourishment was the norm, not the exception
many accidents due to forced labour in the fields and workshops

16. many children attempted escape and perished in doing so
even “model schools” had a mortality rate of 50%
bodies often buried in unmarked plots

17. Imagine
Imagine the unthinkable----your child died, far away, without you there for comfort. Imagine your child is buried in an unmarked grave, in an unknown place. Imagine they don’t even tell you that your beloved child won’t ever be coming home, let alone where their final resting place is. Think of that. Bear that. Imagine that.
Dr. Marie Wilson Truth and Reconciliation commissioner

18. Hidden History
The Hope
A Fresh Approach

19. ...is to find a way to teach the story to others when

20. Did you know?

21. The last IRS closed in 1996 - so still raw, recent history.
Racism is still a reality in Canada today.

22. It’s by honouring the memory of the survivors that we can best be truthful to the legacy of the IRS era.
This project is about that remembrance.
This project is also about taking that knowledge and acting on what we know in a concrete way.

23. Truth and reconciliation Commission chairman Justice murray sinclair
“We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you a path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing,”

24. Hidden History
The Hope
A Fresh Approach

25. ...getting there...
In Project of Heart, students who are learning, can bring something of themselves into it.
The “social action” component links us to present-day Indigenous concerns.

26. Project of heart

27. The Details

28. The Process: students decorate tiles (1st gesture of reconciliation)
An Elder, appointed Aboriginal teacher, intergenerational survivor or RS survivor comes to the school to “smudge” the tiles.
Aboriginal guest answers questions or provides a teaching for that period of time
We make sure that proper protocol is observed during the visit (tobacco is offered)

29. THE Process continued...
students learn about current event re: Indigenous affairs and respond (i.e. letter to government department, letter to the editor of local paper, etc.)
notify Algoma University and send them a short report briefly describing their class’ experience with POH for example student reflections…

31. Social justice action poster
#MyReconciliation includes learning more about First Nation, Métis and Inuit history
#MyReconciliation includes - education, truth, healing, and LISTENING for understanding.
#MyReconciliation includes includes listening. Also, more money for First Nations education & indigenous languages and culture to flourish.
#MyReconciliation includes standing up for what is right!
#MyReconciliation includes a national inquiry for #mmiw it’s answers and justice for women who have endured violence
#MyReconciliation includes Is Expecting more than ‘sorry’
#MyReconciliation includes Being a part of the healing. Together we can help lift the hearts of those who have been harmed
#MyReconciliation includes making Orange Shirt Day a government designated day in Canada

32. Heart Garden