Quote:
Originally Posted by 2ArmBands
This whole situation has really brought a lot of things in perspective. What I find most interesting is how many people had no knowledge of what happened in residential schools and the atrocities that happened. From my own childhood experience in school I was taught about the mistakes and negligence in residential schools. Obviously, the findings of bodies bring everything to a forefront but I find it incredibly odd how many average Canadians are completely shocked by the developments.
Mind you I don’t necessarily blame anyone. I think this is an opportunity for Canadians to take time to fully understand First Nations history both pre and post European contact. There is a lot to be learned by anyone that calls themselves Canadian.
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I have been talking to one of my old friends about all this. He is Ojibwe and from the reserve next to the town I mostly grew up in (same town that Charlie Wenjack was from in fact). I mentioned to him that I wished I knew more about what happened especially considering that it went on right under our noses. He said "me too actually".
I think there was a lot of suffering in silence and putting things in the vault for a lot of families.