On Oct. 8, Indigenous Elder Peter Weasel Moccasin talks about the Blackfoot culture in the Niitsitapi Gathering Place.
On Sept. 30, Canada celebrated its first national Truth and Reconciliation Day. The day was established to bring awareness of the impact of residential schools.
Even though Truth and Reconciliation Day is over, the trauma residential schools left behind continue to affect Indigenous communities.
Juliet Toledo, a high school Indigenous liaison and counsellor at Winston Churchill, mentioned people can take off a shirt and put it away for another year, but the reflection and consideration for what transpired in Canada’s history should not. It’s part of many Indigenous families’ past and it continues to live with them.
“Unless you really sit down and talk to someone, you don’t get it,” Toledo said.
Toledo says that residential schools have brought intergenerational trauma to many Indigenous families. Many children who were brought to residential schools lost their culture, language, and even family members.
Although Indigenous communities continue to face the impacts of residential schools, Toledo feels empowered to know there are people in the community who stand, and support people like her.
“When you are among such a strong group of people that are supportive of you, it really gives you strength,” Toledo said.
Lowell Yellowhorn, Lethbridge College’s Indigenous services coordinator, finds it important to build relationships and indulge in the Indigenous community.
“It’s important to get yourself educated under the impacts that residential schools had on indigenous communities,” Yellowhorn says.
Yellowhorn mentions how all they want to do is share their perspective on things and not place blame on anyone.
Although Truth and Reconciliation Day was rushed, Yellowhorn is excited to see how Truth and Reconciliation Day evolves from here.
