Honouring Truth & Reconciliation Day

Opinion by Dave Glover

Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this opinion piece, the writer incorrectly attributed a quote to Senator Denise Batters. He was wrong. As reflected in the changes to this piece, he intended to refer to Senator Lynn Beyak. We offer our sincere apologies to Senator Batters whose office reached out to us and pointed us towards the correct information.

This September 30th marks the 2nd year in which Canada recognizes TRC Day or Truth and Reconciliation Day. It is a federal holiday enacted by Prime Minister Trudeau. A day set aside to honour the memory of those Indigenous community members forced to assimilate and adapt to colonial rule by the government of the day. First Nations families were irreparably harmed by these actions as many children never made it home.

In Canada, there were roughly 100 residential schools operating at different times from the late 1800’s until the last residential school, Gordon School in Saskatchewan, closed in 1996.

It was Duncan Campbell Scott, the Deputy Superintendent for the Department of Indian Affairs, in 1920, who amended the Indian Act and made it mandatory for all Indigenous children to attend residential schools and illegal to attend any other educational institution. Mr. Scott said, “I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone… Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department.”

It is estimated that over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children attended Indian residential schools. In Ontario, there were 15 residential schools with 13 of them attended by Nishnawbe Aski Nation children. Most indigenous children in Ontario attended what were known then as residential day schools.

In 2008, Prime Minister Harper issued an apology in the House of Commons, acknowledging Canada’s role in the creation and implementation of the residential school system in Canada. These schools were run in a joint operation with the Catholic archdiocese of Canada, and the federal government with the stated goal of beating the Indian out of the child. Many of the children taken from their families were never seen again. Others suffered great hardship, including physical, sexual and mental abuse.

Some in Canada have chosen not to honour this day of remembrance. Including the current Government of Ontario, and for that, I’m deeply appalled. Not because I have family members who were sent to these horrific places, but because I know the only reason Mr. Ford has chosen not to honour the day is purely a matter of economics. The Premier has decided instead to have a moment of silence in the provincial legislature. A hollow sentiment this year, as Queens Park has taken a break until after the municipal elections and won’t be sitting on September 30th.

In Northumberland Peterborough South, where I live, we have two 1st Nations communities that were affected by the so-called 60’s scoop that suffered through the residential school nightmare. Hiawatha and Alderville FirstNations. They, too, will be honouring and remembering the children who didn’t make it home. Neither of these communities had residential schools, but they did have day schools which were by all accounts just as harsh. The closest to our community was the Alnwick Industrial School.

I grew up in Ontario, and had it not been for my uncle, I would have been just as unaware about the suffering of Indigenous families as most Canadians.

An uncle by marriage, he was the son of a Mohawk Chief in Deseronto. He shared stories of the treatment he endured, and the education he received. The topic of his experience came up in conversation when we were talking about the Toronto Board of Education outlawing corporal punishment. Needless to say, I was shocked, especially given I hadn’t heard of Indian residential schools at that point in my life. The harsh reality those students endured was not a subject we were taught.

So, I have to ask. Now that we know more about the treatment of First Nation children in residential schools, why don’t more Canadians feel the need to make an effort to understand and open their minds to his damning legacy?

Well for starters, the federal government has done a darn good job of hiding what was going on for a long time, and as a result most non-native Canadians have had no idea what happened from the 1800’s to 1996. Former senator Lynn Beyak, who resigned in 2021, attempted to rationalize national ignorance claiming that not all of these schools were bad, and, at least, the kids were educated.

Children of colonial settlers and the thousands of new Canadians who weren’t here when this genocide was happening don’t feel particularly comfortable dealing with this remnant of our past. I don’t think we need to feel guilty, but we do need to acknowledge how these actions taken on our behalf have affected First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada. I’m of the mind that we can’t address our current woes until we address and acknowledge historical past misdeeds.

I know my family didn’t actively take part in the colonialism, but we directly benefitted. We have never acknowledged the legacy of oppression that has made our non-native lives better, a fact that should no longer be ignored.

We’ve heard of terms like white privilege, settler law and colonial oppressors, but none of us experienced it firsthand like our First Nations, Metis and Inuit brothers and sisters.

I’m not pointing a finger at anyone. I’m simply asking that, at the very least, we recognize and acknowledge the damage caused by decades of abuse. Generational damage whose impacts are still being felt to this day.

It is a fact, our colonial government and the Catholic Church colluded to perpetrate genocide in Canada.

Genocide, we as a people must come to terms with.

We owe it to ourselves, our children and First Nations people to accept, acknowledge and educate ourselves on its impact.

Truth and reconciliation cannot happen in any meaningful way until we’re willing to take the time necessary to ensure honest healing can take place. And that includes recognizing our role in its success. This is why I observe TRC day, wear an orange shirt, and reiterate that #EveryChildMatters.

Some are eager to mention cancel culture or critical race theory when discussing this issue and claim that we’re teaching our kids that white people are violent racists.

Well, you can’t deny history. Historically, European white settlers killed First Nation people willingly in great numbers and took advantage of their superiority in many ways. Only by understanding, recognizing and acknowledging the misdeeds and crimes of our ancestors can we truly have reconciliation in Canada.

I believe we cannot move forward as a nation until we recognize the wrongs that were done in the name of Canada by previous generations.

Otherwise, how can we ask First Nations people to trust us, after all the generations they have been mistreated and lied to.

Trust will not be granted arbitrarily this time. No, this time trust must be earned.

Acknowledging TRC Day is a good first step, but the TRC commission issued 94 calls to action. Ninety-four actions we as individuals can make to advance the cause.

It is the honourable Senator Murray Sinclair who said, pick one of those calls to action and start moving forward. It’s up to each one of us to make the effort if truth and reconciliation is going to have any lasting effect.

If, Every Child Matters, we must prove it, show it, and live it.

It will take more than wearing an orange shirt this September 30th. It’s going to take concrete action.

Are you ready to do what you can to make Truth and Reconciliation more than just a regular day?

I know I am, and I know many others are too.

Magwitch, and thank you in advance, for doing your part together, let’s make TRC day a truly memorable day.

www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524494530110/1557511412801

www.reconciliationeducation.ca/what-are-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-94-calls-to-action

https://calendar.northumberland.ca/default/Detail/2022-09-30-0000-National-Day-for-Truth-and-Reconciliation-Orange-S

Dave Glover is a well known cultural and political commentator in Northumberland. Thousands of listeners, both locally and worldwide, know Dave because of his “Drive Time” radio broadcast that ran for more than 8 years and his 15 years hosting political programs on a local cable channel.

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