march 28, 2018

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The News reads: “No apology from Pope Francis for Catholic Churches Role in Residential School Abuses”

The Prime Minister of Canada expresses disappointment.

The story litters the written news; and the broadcasted news.

(White) journalists wearing their dress clothes that number in the hundreds report this news.

This discussion takes place on the news,

In the coffee room of us upper middle class folks,

With our spouses as we convey our sadness,

Others apathy. 

For lots,

disdain that the conversation continues to exist.

To the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation

this is big news, this is tragic.

 

I think back to the Grade4/5 class from reserve I worked with who had never heard of the residential school system. Kids who continue to live in its legacy.

Whose emotional, spiritual, physical, cultural, and financial lives continue to be dragged through this legacy.

Kids whose living quarters are in part defined by this legacy.

This legacy of hate. control. racism.

 

I think of the kids whom I work with every day-

Trauma, instability, pain, broken relations, labels, food insecurity, abuse - who, in part, are raised by this legacy

I think of the trauma, whose realities are more grim than we can comprehend.

We know the statistics, we know the research

We do not understand the lived realities.

 

Kids who do not know any different. Parents, kokum’s , and mosôms who do not know any different. nimosôm. 

Who cannot escape the racism,

the trauma,

the inequality,

the ignorance,

or otherwise,

the reality of our neighbourhoods,

our cities,

our country.

 

I think of the mihcet awâsisak (many children), Kinîkihikonwak (our parents), nimosôminan (our grandfather), nohkomana (our grandmother)’s who are having this conversation. 

 

But mostly I think of all of us who are not having this conversation, who cannot have this conversation, who do not know this is a conversation

addiction

            poverty

     homelessness

         youth homelessness

              drop outs 

                  inequality

                       stratification

                           food insecurity

                                death

                                    LIMITS

 

To those who live day to day. For our youth who live day to day.

Summer 1534: The French claim this land to be their own. New France.

Winter 1635: The Roman Catholic Church and the Jesuit Establishment are dominant forces on this land

1844: The Baggot commission proposes assimilation by separating children from their parents, families, and communities

1884: The creation of residential schools which are operated by the government, the roman catholic church, and several Christian denominations. 60% of Residential Schools in Canada are operated by the Roman Catholic Church. We are banned from ceremony.

1920- Indian Residential Schools become mandatory for every child between the age of 7 and 16.

1996- Last residential school closes

76 MANDATORY YEARS; 112 YEARS OF RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLING

March 28, 2018 Pope Francis will not apologize for church’s role in residential school abuses.

March 29, 2018 Week two for our missing 14-year-old girl. Kokum picks up the other 4 children in her care.

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