Today I did not go to placement as I was on a field trip with my university Indigenous studies class.  We were asked to do a write up on our experience on the trip so thought I would include this as a blog.  The field trip was to Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Center where we had the privilege to participate in a "blanket experience" and actually talk with several residential school survivors.

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        First off, for anyone who does not know, residential schools are black mark on North America's history, Canada included.  The first residential school opened in 1831.  They were run by the government and the churches and were meant to "assimilate" Indigenous children into western society.  During the years of operation, government officials would forcefully take Indigenous children, as young as four years old, away from their parents and families to bring them to these residential schools.  In these schools, the children were emotionally, physically and sexually abused.  Their culture was outlawed, they were even punished for speaking their native tongue.  

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        I mentioned this started in 1831; a common idea is that this was a long time ago, we have changed as a nation in the past 200 years, however, the last residential school in Canada closed in 1996, not that long ago!  For 165 years, Indigenous peoples were kidnapped from their homes and taken to a place where they were abused and their culture was ripped from them.  I have had the privilege of meeting several residential school survivors who have shared their stories with me, and I would like to share a few here to give a little insight on how bad these places really where:

• children had a push pin stuck in their tongues if they spoke their language

• children were raped on a nightly basis

• when a child was sick, they were made to eat their own vomit (I heard two different stories of this happening in different schools)

• electric chairs were used to electrocute misbehaving children, though never enough to kill them

• children were beat on a regular basis

• staff would start drama among the children with the intent to make them hate each other and other people of their culture

• humiliating children was a regular form of punishment

It is estimated that 6000 children died in residential school care (ICMN Staff).

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        In 2008 Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper made an apology to the Indigenous people for the 165 years they were forced into residential schools. 

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If you would like to learn more about residential schools I highly suggest you take a look at these websites:

• Residential Schools

• Reclaiming History: The Residential School System in Canada, - Shares many personal stories from residential school survivors across the country

• Stolen Children | Residential School survivors speak out - Video

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Now back to the trip!

        The first thing we did on this trip was a smudging.  If you are unfamiliar with the term smudging, it is an Indigenous custom where you burn sage and each person in the room used the smoke to cleanse their body.  This was the second time I have taken part in a smudging, and I really enjoy it; it is such a peaceful and spiritual act. 

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        After the smudging was the "blanket exercise".  There were many blankets laid out on the floor.  We were asked to take off our shoes and begin walking around freely on the blankets.  There was also a narrator explaining to us that the blanket represent Canada and we are the Indigenous people years ago, free to roam from tribe to tribe and territory to territory.  Occasionally one of my class mates was asked to read a quote from an Indigenous person which shared the feelings and thoughts of Indigenous people at that time.  Then the facilitators began to slowly kick the edges of the blankets into themselves.  At first I thought this was an accident or was just happening as there were so many people moving around so I, and i noticed some others, would try to fix the blankets and kick them back out.  Eventually the blankets were being kicked in too fast for us to keep up with, and suddenly there were large gaps between the blankets and we had to stay on the one we were on.  This represented how their land became smaller and smaller and times progressed and they were restricted from moving from community to community.  Indigenous people were restricted to reserves.  

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        Then anyone holding a white card (cards were given out randomly before the exercise) was asked to sit down.  They represented the number of Indigenous people were died from a smallpox epidemic.  Nearly half of our class sat down.  After this they continued to go through the history, using us as visual representatives of what the Indigenous people experienced.  This included the children and woman who went missing, those taken to residential schools, those who died in residential schools, children taken during the 60's scoop, and many more.

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        This experience was very powerful to be a part of.  I found myself invested in the activity, hoping that I survived until the end.  I did "live" to the end of the exercise, however, I was chosen to represent the children who left reserve to go to high school and never return.  I was asked ti step off the blanket, but remain standing on the floor.  I was still alive, but no longer a part of "my" Indigenous heritage.  

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        After this we were split into groups where we were given the opportunity to speak with and listen to residential school survivors.  In my group we also had a survivor of the 60's scoop.  Together, the who woman took turns sharing their stories of these horrific times.  It was incredible to me to see how open and will they were to talk about such dark times of their life.  Their strength is something I only hope I can one day posses, but I also hope I am never put in a situation where that strength would be tested as they were.

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        Finally, after this we were treated to a beautiful traditional meal: wild rice and veggies, cooked salmon, fry bread, salad, fresh strawberry juice and a berry salad for desert.  

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Refernce

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ICMN Staff. (2015, June 2). 6,000 Kids Died in Residential Schools: Canada Truth and Reconciliation

      Commission. Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved from

      https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/first-nations/6000-kids-died-in-residential-schools-

      canada-truth-and-reconciliation-commission/