Gathering Local Stories From Residential School Survivors

Saturday, March 11, 2006 04:01 AM

Day two of the Storytelling Session goes today at the Civic Centre

Prince George is the second stop in what will be an 18-month journey across the country gathering the stories of survivors of residential schools.

The project is being undertaken by the Legacy of Hope Foundation in a bid to educate both aboriginal and non-aboriginal youth about the residential school experience and history.

Executive Director, Angie Bruce, says the foundation grew out of a 2001 gathering in Edmonton that brought together aboriginal youth -- Inuit, Metis, and First Nations -- from across the country. She says, "They came together and said to us, 'Your number one mandate should be educating the youth about the legacy of residential schools because it still affects us today."

Bruce says the first education program developed is a historical photographic exhibit that is currently travelling the country called, "Where are the Children?" The exhibit is scheduled to be in Prince George in the fall of 2007. But Bruce says when survivors saw the exhibit, many wanted the chance to record their experiences. "They wanted to educate youth through what they had to say because, as you know, the aboriginal community uses oral tradition and they wanted to pass that down."

So, the storytelling sessions are an opportunity for survivors to record their residential school experiences either individually or in a group setting. The final results will be a book, DVD, and website to be used as educational tools.

Bruce says the sessions have been well received both in Vancouver and our city. "It's been really, really amazing. What we find is that B.C. is a lot further along than maybe some other provinces in the healing movement that's occurring right now and so people have been ready -- they want their story heard, they want a venue to document so that it's here forever."

She says, "I think what really brings them here is that they know that they need to educate both aboriginal and non-aboriginal youth because those are our leaders of tomorrow."

"So they (the youth) need to have that understanding of what happened and that empathy and that touch with humanity, so that what happened doesn't happen again."

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Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: johnnyrunner on March 11 2006 6:47 AM

Am I the only person who is getting just a little bit tired of the "feel sorry for the natives" drive that seems to feature so prominently in current liberal ethos.Without bothering to defend myself against a barrage of PC responses, I will just conclude to say; As someone who was born and raised as a Canadian in the third world (africa), I simply get nauseated at the great lengths the media will go to promote their pet agendas, while choosing to ignore the people who may really need their support.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 11 2006 7:29 AM

"Natives" weren't the only ones raised in residential schools. Why are there so few stories about other residential schools?

Posted by: Free Enterprise on March 11 2006 9:11 AM

What?
So, the storytelling sessions are an opportunity for survivors to record their residential school experiences either individually or in a group setting. The final results will be a book, DVD, and website to be used as educational tools.
--
No wonder the native are going no where fast. If you study any successful person you will find that they put the past behind them and moved on. Instead of sitting in a circle and telling your bad stories to the youth. Let’s depress them one more time and give them another false reason why they are where they are.

You are in life where you are based on two main (not all) things and that is:
1) The books you read
2) The people you hang around with.

Suggested reading:
A) How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie by Dale Carnegie.
B) The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
C) The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

Suggested people to hang out with:
A) Those that don’t bring you down
B) Those that inspire and encourage your present and future successes

A very successful friend of mine once said about succeeding. “If you’re going through hell, for god sake do stop there!”

Ain’t it great…

Posted by: ammonra on March 11 2006 11:07 AM

“If you’re going through hell, for god sake do stop there!”

The problem then is what to do with all the people living in hell.

"Heal them", would be the answer I would imagine, and that requires some form of counseling and treatment. After all, those stuck in hell because of what others did to them are people too.

Programs like this can have a beneficial effect in the long run, and that is what is needed for healing - a long time. You don't actually have to buy the book or DVD, nor do you have to listen to the material. It is for those who need it, so if you don't then ignore it.

Posted by: diplomat on March 11 2006 12:29 PM

"Would any of you think of telling holocaust survivors to just put the past behind them?"

Yes.

Not to forget it, mind you. But not to let the awful things that happened be an all-consuming resentful state of mind, a mental block or excuse to stand on the side lines and live a life of self pity and negativity.

I myself survived a holocaust, so I know what it is all about.

Posted by: owl on March 11 2006 12:29 PM

"If you study any successful person you will find that they put the past behind them and moved on."

Anther one of those "truisms" spouted off by too many too often. It simply is not true globally. It is a truism spouted off by those who do not know any different.

If you did study that, you would find an anomaly, a very low percentage of the population. You will be studying the cream of the crop. That will tell you nothing.

You have to study ALL those how have had a hard luck story, have put the past behind them, and see how many have risen to the top. That number that have, compared to the number who have not will be very small.

In addition, do not assume that they have succeeded because they have put the past behind them. They will have succeeded for many reasons, that only being one of them. Another will be that they went to a "healing" period first. Just as not everyone being able to run 100 metres in 10 seconds, not everyone will "heal" as fast as another. You simply cannot lump people together in one pot.

Posted by: owl on March 11 2006 12:33 PM

"A very successful friend of mine once said about succeeding. “If you’re going through hell, for god sake do stop there!” "

And he said that for what reason? Is he a sadist?

Surely you meant to say "DON'T stop there".

Posted by: diplomat on March 11 2006 1:29 PM

"If you study any successful person you will find that they put the past behind them and moved on."

Some of us are more successful at doing that than others.

Cheers!

Posted by: Percy on March 11 2006 5:16 PM

I empathize with those who were taken away from their families and put in Residential Schools. I can't imagine what that would have been like.

I know from my own experiences, I just wanted to be heard and I wanted to be understood. I didn't expect people to know what to do about it. That was my responsibility, once I knew what needed to be fixed.

We all know that hurt people hurt people. When we are wounded, we aren't in much of a position to heal others.

This is all about healing. Only those who have needed healing would understand.

We can't be angry at those who don't or can't understand. Percy

Posted by: Free Enterprise on March 11 2006 5:19 PM

Thanks owl.
I did mean 'Don't' stop there.

Posted by: Big_B on March 11 2006 9:41 PM

Well, judging by the lack of empathy shown on here by many, I would say that Aboriginal people in this country are once again being pushed to the margins.

I imagine this forum is/was a chance for many to get out of those margins and try to fit into mainstream Canada, but to do it your own unique way, is obviously not acceptable.

What I always find very amusing is that whenever Joe Q Public tells every indian how to live, they make it sound like they:
Have read, memorized, and
understood every Supreme court ruling regarding Aboriginal people for the last 30 years, are an expert on Section 35 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and know every word and every section of the Indian Act.

Colonialistic and patternalistic thinking are so refreshing. I'm glad there are so many people in this country who know whats best for everyone.

Thank you Percy for showing that you care about others. It is a refreshing attitude.

Some other books to read:
Custer Died for Your sins, by Vine Deloria Jr.
In The Spirit of CRazy Horse, by Peter Mathieson.
My Name is Sepeetza.
and a fave from my university days, Our Home & Native Land, by Melvin H. Smith (my old prof and a wonderfully comedic man)

Posted by: Percy on March 11 2006 10:09 PM

Thank you Big B. I was fortunate to meet one of the Elder Native Ladies this evening. Her name was Virginia. She spoke at the gathering today.

Bless her for her boldness, her honesty, her faith and her sincerity.

If we would only listen and let our hearts do our thinking for us.

It's time we allowed ourselves to follow our hearts instead of those with loud voices. It's in the quiet times when we listen and truly hear that we can learn something about the lives of others. Percy

Posted by: diplomat on March 12 2006 9:41 AM

I like what you are saying, Percy!

We all know what the Golden Rule is all about.

Eventually a Charter of Human Responsibilities and Duties will be written and adopted - to live alongside the Charter Of Human Rights and Freedoms.

Peace may finally prevail everywhere.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 12 2006 9:01 PM

My vote is move on, put it behind you. I grew up with Metis and Indians friends. The ones that lead trouble free lives left all the crap behind. Someone here called them the cream of the crop. What a put down.