When Robyn Bourgeois sees her three children, who are seven to 12 years old, she sometimes thinks about what her grandfather was doing at that age at a residential school in Alberta.
“I think about him being that age and digging graves for other kids like him, and also wondering, ‘OK, if this is happening to them, could this happen to me?'” said Bourgeois, a researcher at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
Johnny Bourgeois spent most of his childhood at Grouard Residential School in Alberta. He passed away over 20 years ago, but his family still feels the consequences of his experiences.
Robyn is Cree from Treaty 8 territory and vice-provost of Indigenous engagement at Brock University. Part of her research involves the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system.
She said the “very punitive, very shameful, very violent” experiences her grandfather faced at the school were passed on to his children, who passed it on to their children in a cycle of abuse.
“I think most of us who are the grandchildren of my grandpa don’t have relationships with our parents,” she said.
“Our parents don’t know how to be parents because my grandpa didn’t know how to be a parent either.”
Education important on road to reconciliation, Bourgeois says
Monday marks the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is held every Sept. 30.
Once you know better, you can do better. And that’s the second part … reconciliation.– Robyn Bourgeois
Although the painful history of residential schools is more well known now, people who don’t know the full scope of violence for Indigenous people need to learn, she said.
“To me, truth is about knowledge,” Bourgeois said.
For people who are non-Indigenous, she also recommends:
- Reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report.
- Attending community events that talk about the history.
- Learning about the residential school system.
- Reading books and watching movies about the topic. Bourgeois recommends the National Film Board of Canada and Indigenous-made movies and shows about residential schools.
“Once you know better, you can do better,” said Bourgeois. “And that’s the second part … reconciliation.”
She also says that in marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
- Small actions matter — no one has to “go out and change the world” on Sept. 30
- Thinking about “where are you in your life” and considering ways to help. “Maybe that is teaching your kids about Orange Shirt Day and what this day means,” said Bourgeois. “Maybe it’s supporting Indigenous communities whether it be attending events or donating to our friendship centres or spending time volunteering.”
- Consider helping in bigger ways where possible. “Maybe you are in an organization and have the ability to get your co-workers involved in learning about this and deciding what they could do to help.”
Bourgeois said it’s important that people who are new to Canada learn the history as well. She said organizations should do a better job of educating new immigrants.
At Brock, for example, the university works with international students to bring attention to the history of residential schools, she said.
“Anybody who lives in Canada today, whether you intend to or not, has benefited from colonialism,” Bourgeois said.
“Canada exists and it only exists because of colonialism, because of the theft of Indigenous lands and the occupation of them, the removal of Indigenous people, whether through policy or residential schools or missing and murdered Indigenous people.”
Labour of Indigenous people during a painful day
Bourgeois also wants people, especially those in leadership roles, to remember that while the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an important day, it can’t be put all on Indigenous people.
“The burden of the day often falls on Indigenous people, and … we really need to focus on healing. This is a really hard day for us,” she said.
She said that’s something she shared at her workplace and hopes others can follow suit.
However, Bourgeois said, consulting Indigenous people is still critical.
“It’s important that people work in relationship with Indigenous people, but, you know, carry the weight of that.”
Breaking generational cycles
Bourgeois said she and her family decided to work on breaking those generational cycles of abuse with the next generation.
“I don’t hit my children … I don’t engage in shaming with them because that was part of the legacy of residential schools. We focus on healthy development.”
She and the father of her children — who is Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River — also make sure their kids know their culture.
Bourgeois said she didn’t know her grandfather was fluent in Cree until the cancer that took his life spread to his brain. She said being shamed and tortured as a result of speaking his native language probably made him not want to talk about it.
“During the final stages, he only spoke Cree,” she said.
Johnny’s brother was there to translate.
“In some ways, it was a beautiful moment because all of a sudden, whatever [he] was holding back, [he] let go,” she said.
Bourgeois said she wants people to remember this National Day of Truth and Reconciliation that “despite all of this, Indigenous communities are here.”
“We’re still alive, we’re resilient, we’re resistant, we have beautiful systems of knowledge and culture, and just incredible excellence.”
Truth and Reconciliation Day events in Hamilton, surrounding areas
Friday:
- At 5 p.m. today, Six Nations of the Grand River is inviting the community to a picnic pack drive-through giveaway at the Oneida Business Park. The event will run until 7 p.m. or until resources run out.
- Starting at 10 a.m., Brock University will host a memorial fire “in honour of residential school victims and the legacy of intergenerational solidarity of Indigenous people.”
- On Sept. 27 and 28, the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre will be hosting their annual “Lifting Up Our Children” gathering at Gage Park with talks from residential school survivors Dawn Hill and Sherlene Bomberry, dancers, lacrosse with youth and Hamilton Police and more.
Saturday:
- On Sept. 28, McMaster University holds the McMaster Marauders Orange Shirt Games with soccer and rugby matches. The games will include Indigenous vendors and run at various times from 12 to 8 p.m.
- Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg will be hosting a reconciliation tree-planting event near Pritchard Trail on Sept. 28 starting at 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
- Also on Sept. 28, Hamilton-based artist Kyle Joedicke is hosting a fundraiser at Doors Pub with all proceeds going to the Indian Residential School Survivor Society. There will be music, vendors, and more.
Sunday:
- On Sept. 29 at 9:30 p.m., McMaster will also host screenings of Indian Horse at Landmark Theatres in Hamilton, Welland and St. Catharines. Tickets are by donation of diapers or menstrual products that will be “donated to local community agencies.”
Monday:
- The Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre will host its annual Unity Walk on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m.
- The City of Hamilton will host a sunrise event on Sept. 30 at around 7 a.m. at West Harbour to “commemorate and honour residential school survivors, their families, and communities.” The city is also hosting an event in the afternoon “filled with Indigenous knowledge sharing,” with a survivor’s story, music, food and more.
- The Woodlands Cultural Centre is inviting people to partake in a day full of programming with a screening of Silent No More, a survivor talk and Q&A, and more.
- The Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre hosts its fourth annual Unity Walk at 10 a.m.
- Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and the Town of Lincoln city halls are hosting flag-raising ceremonies. The ceremonies in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines take place at 10 a.m.. The ceremony in Lincoln begins at 9 a.m.
- Enjoy a light-up drone show at 9 p.m., hosted by The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. They’re inviting the community to “commemorate the lives lost” with a fire and the opportunity to write the names of lost loved ones for a future plaque. Other activities for the whole family will also be available starting at 3 p.m. at MCFN Community Centre.
Also next week:
- The Beckett Fine Art gallery gathered a “rare collection of historic art” for an exhibition called Respect. The exhibit started on Sept. 21 and will be on until Oct. 12.
- On Oct. 5, a “Walk Towards Truth” will take place in Brantford as a “reflective fundraising walk for Settlers to honour Indigenous survivors, families and communities.” The event starts at 7 a.m. at 188 Mohawk St.