I had the honor of being invited to hear many horrific stories of children being taken from their homes by Mounties to be transported hundreds of kilometers away, placed in a residential school and not permitted leave.
They were captives and endured years of pain and suffering at the hands of those who operated the facilities sanctioned by the Canadian government.
Identical atrocities were committed in the United States.
Pain and suffering at the hands of another with no escape is traumatic if you are an adult enduring sexual or domestic abuse but children's response is worse.
Dr. Simon Lucas and Larry Baird Sr. selflessly offered their time and knowledge with my Port Alberni, BC grade 4/5 class sharing the history of residential schools from their perspective.
https://www.jonathanmccormick.com/forum/indigenous-leadership/dr-simon-lucas-nuu-chah-nulth-elder
The video below offers Phyllis Webstad's experience and how she coped(s).
It has taken years for former residential school students to shed the trauma, learn the culture they were punished for practicing and live.
Nuu-chah-nulth Nation fishermen had their rights restored by the BC Court of Appeals in 2021. Many celebrated the combination of Canada acknowledging the damage the residential schools caused and the joy of having their historical rights returned. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2021/04/21/Nuu-Chah-Nulth-Just-Won-Huge-Ruling-First-Nations-Fisheries/
Wickaninnish, Cliff Atleo, plays the drum while singing the Nuu-chah-nulth song on the court steps in Vancouver, April 2018. Photo by Melody Charlie.
Volunteers help paint parts of the pedestrian portions of the Orange Bridge (Riverbend Bridge) on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY KEN WATTS)
"The bridge has a far more somber history than the argument over its nomenclature. Children being transported to Alberni Indian Residential School from other communities around B.C. were driven over the bridge on the way to the school. Many survivors refuse to return to the area, or to cross the bridge into Tseshaht First Nation territory. The new orange paint is changing the narrative, said Tseshaht elected Chief Councilor Wahmeesh Ken Watts."
The bridge I can imagine. That being the last vision the children had before the residential school. What are we doing in America with truth and reconciliation?
Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
https://web.archive.org/web/20200513112354/https:/trc.ca/index-main.html
Imagine.
A knock comes at your door. You open it and two police officers tell you they are taking your children to an undisclosed location and you will not be able to visit them.
Imagine you as that child, beaten if you speak an unauthorized language, fed very little and brainwashed with cult-like doctrine.
It happened in America and Canada.
Canadians are honoring the memory of hundreds of children who never returned home.
Not sure if you should call hearing about literal genocide an honor... 🤷