Take part in the healing; the world is watching
Although I applaud Tristin Hopper in attempting to explain all the deaths at Indian Residential Schools, I found his article to be a good example of “whitewashing” Canadian history ( “Why so many children died at Indian Residential Schools,” Cold Lake Sun, May 30 ). As a First Nation intergenerational survivor of Canada’s genocide, I had to go to university to learn the true history of what happened to Our People. It was there I first learned about residential schools and the abuse and traumas that were inflicted on our most vulnerable, the children. The abuses endured were physical, sexual and emotional abuse in the most extreme forms. Children were routinely raped by the priests and nuns, and in some cases, gave birth to live babies that were thrown into incinerators. Children were beaten for speaking their own language, had their hair cut off, and deloused. The intent of residential schools was to rid the child of their “Indianness,” by forcing religion upon them and keeping them away from their families. The children were starved, used in medical experiments, forced labour and others were sterilized. Then, after years of abuse, the children were sent home, if they survived, and expected to function in society.