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answers and doesn’t give people the opportunity to grow.” Consequently, it’s critical that the Pope adheres to the approach he took during his groundbreaking visit to Canada. “The only way to move forward is to do what he did — engage us on our own terms. It’s important to carry that approach forward. Whether his apology delivered all the things it needed to do is arguable. But he did come and say he was sorry,” Sinclair says. “Many residential school Survivors have said that a step in the right direction was made.” Still, both the Pope and the federal government need to continue to be genuine — and proactive — in moving the reconciliation process ahead in a healthy, productive way. “Words are fine, but actions have to come with words. For example, the obligation to pay what compensation is owed to Indigenous peo- ples must be fulfilled. They must help re-establish Indigenous languag- es and start to help in rebuilding communities. As much energy must be put into rebuilding communities as was put into destroying them.” Given everything that happened in the past, it’s understandable that Indigenous peoples across Canada are taking a wait-and-see approach with the reconciliation process. In the final analysis, it’s all about trust. “The Catholic church has to earn a relationship, and the only way to do that is by establishing they can be trusted. Hopefully, there will be some type of oversight. In the past, the church wasn’t accountable to anyone, and change came very slowly. That can’t happen now.” Money is only part of the solution to moving the reconciliation pro- cess in a positive direction, he concludes. “All the money in the world can’t replace caring. If people think the status quo is fine, it isn’t. This isn’t an Indigenous problem; it’s a Cana- dian problem. The solution must come from all of us.”
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It signalled that Catholicism must be different. Indigenous peoples must be respected in their own cultural practices and that the face of God is within them. The schools were a policy of genocide.”
UCN acknowledges and honours the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
This day commemorates the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools and honours the survivors, families and communities who continue to grieve for those lost. We encourage reflection and meaningful discussions about the impacts of residential schools today and every day.
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Niigaan Sinclair, — professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba
On September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, The University of Winnipeg honours the survivors of residential schools, acknowledges the impacts of intergenerational survivors, and remembers the children who never made it home.
SUPPLIED PHOTO
By Kristin Marand A new interactive online platform based on the Witness Blanket is creating opportunities for people to explore first-hand accounts from residential school Survivors. At witnessblanket.ca, users can discover stories from the Witness Blanket , a large-scale art installation by master carver Carey Newman. The artwork is made from over 800 pieces donated by Survivors or collected from the sites of former residential schools, churches and other cultural structures across Canada. The online platform highlights 10 artifacts from the artwork. Through immersive, original stories, each artifact is accompanied by the voices of Survivors who share aspects of their experiences in residential schools. “In the oral traditions of my ancestors, a witness has an important role,” says Newman in an introductory video. “To ensure that things are not forgotten, a witness watches,
listens and then remembers and shares with others what they have learned. As you explore these stories, I invite you to bear witness.” The museum worked with an advisory group of educators across Canada to build a customized teacher resource based on the new web platform. It includes all the elements a teacher would need to bring education about residential schools into the classroom, including detailed lesson plans based on the stories shared through witnessblanket.ca. The resource is set up to build a human rights classroom culture that embraces empathy, helps teachers and students connect with Elders, Survivors and Indigenous communities, and develops pathways to reconciliation. Graham Lowes, manager of education and program development at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, noted the importance of incorporating this content into learning plans in ways that are age-appropriate.
“We want to help educators build a classroom culture that’s safe and supportive, where students can use this new online platform to learn about the residential school era,” Lowes says. “Through the new teacher resource, we’ve brought together strategies and exercises for all students from K-12 that will help them build empathy with the experiences of Survivors and encourage more conversations about the ongoing impacts of residential schools.” Lowes also noted that while building understanding is foundational, it is equally important to help students use what they learn to take action. “We want every student to be a leader in their community. Our goal is to help everyone take what they learn and translate it into action for a future based on the principles of human rights, truth and reconciliation.” Discover moving testimony from residential school Survivors by visiting witnessblanket.ca.
Through education, we can learn from the past and move forward in a way that is informed by the Calls to Action and committed to Reconciliation.
uwinnipeg.ca
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