Community News

IT'S ABOUT MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION A TIME FOR EDUCATING AND INFORMING, SAYS PATRICIA MONAGUE

Ahneen Boozhoo Sago Waache Salut Hello,

My true name is Cedar woman and I'm from Beausoleil First Nation, but mostly people call me Patricia Monague.

I have been sitting with my most sacred medicine, which we call tobacco, asking my ancestors what is most important to share with you in regards to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) call to action.

We have so many examples of what residential school did to First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. So it was whispered in my ear that I should start at home. My brother, Spencer Butler, is 71 years old today, and I'm sharing his story with his permission.

He was sent to a residential school around 1957, along with my sister. When the original 215 unmarked graves were found in British Columbia, he experienced full-blown post-traumatic stress. He said it was like everything they knew as children was true, that the people who swore they were there to keep them safe and educate them were killing them.

They were not adults — they didn't sign up for this.

They were children — and their families thought they were doing the right thing.

My brother says you do not know what it is like to wake up afraid, walk through your day terrified and be even more terrified to sleep at night because you never knew if you were going to be the next child the priest and two nuns would escort out of the ward.

They were told the children were going home, but they knew the truth that these children are not going home. My brother wants to share his prayer: "Dear God. What did I do so wrong that you sent me here?"

For me and my family, it's not about holding anybody responsible. It's not about the almighty dollar. It's about how we're going to move forward together.

For future generations, it's about putting an end to racism and bigotry. It's about educating and informing.

For myself, it's about acknowledging that God/creator put us here as spirit human beings — which means we are all related in spirit.

The most important call to action today is not trying to assume responsibility or blame anybody, but please get a copy of the TRC and read it. Get educated and informed about First Nations/Indigenous peoples.

P.S. My entire family — six brothers and sisters — went on to experience the Sixties Scoop in 1967. I was two years old.

Patricia Monague is a grandmother, an Anishinaabe elder and an advocate for First Nations communities.

Opinion

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2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281629604148251

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