‘This is what my people were forced to endure’

 

Oohuuks NanaNiikSuu, Nellie Joseph mit, my nana, attended Kakawis, also known as Christie Indian Residential School. She rarely spoke about her experience with her children, often saying, "No good will come from talking about it," when asked.

 

When my nana received financial compensation for her time at residential school, she said, "No amount of money will take away the pain they put me through." We never fully understood the extent of her pain, as she couldn’t talk about it.

 

Oohuuks NanaNiikSuu Shorty (Joseph) Frank mit, another family member, also attended Christie Indian Residential School. Like my nana, he didn’t speak of his experience either. He passed away at a young age, leaving behind five sons and five daughters, including my late father.

 

I want to share an interesting fact with you: Kakawis was located directly behind Opitsaht, the community where both of my grandparents lived with their families. Can you imagine being forced to attend residential school, and living there for 10 months, while your home was just a 10-minute walk away?

 

Oohuuks NanaNiikSuu, my grandfather, George Jack Thompson, lived in the old village of Whyac, at the mouth of the ocean leading to Nitinat Lake on the West Coast Trail. His parents took him by canoe to Port Alberni, where he attended Alberni Indian Residential School. Every summer, as my grandfather travelled along the Somass River, the sight of the school on the hill would make him physically sick. To this day, he still feels that sickness when he has to go up that hill.

 

Oohuuks NanaNiikSuu, Nona Williams mit grew up on the Tseshaht Reserve in Port Alberni and also attended Alberni Indian Residential School. From her window, she could see her home. My grandma once told my mom that when she received her financial compensation, she felt immense guilt and pain. As a gesture of kindness, she shared the money with her children, trying to bring a little goodness into the world despite the trauma she endured.

Imagine your child went to school today and never came home, ever. Fifty years later you're told their body was found at an unmarked graveyard beside the school. This is what my people were forced to endure. 

 

As for my personal reconcili-ACTION plan, I am committed to learning my language for my dad and others who were punished for speaking or teaching their language. I’d like to acknowledge Shawnigan for allowing me to pursue an Indigenous Language Fluency Certificate program last school year. I took this course alongside my mother, three nights a week for four hours at a time, and completed it in August. This course also counted as my second language credit. I see this as part of Shawnigan’s participation in reconcili-ACTION.

 

Kleco and thank you.