Canada Day
Over the past month we have sat and listened to the news cycle telling us about the bodies of children discovered on the sites of former residential schools. We have listened and have been outraged by what we are hearing. We have put on our orange shirts and made statements of solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. Maybe you have even written to your MP or MPP to let them know about your outrage.
We should be outraged, mad, and sad for the harm our colonial existence has forced upon the people who are the original caretakers of the land. People who lived here for thousands of years before contact and will continue to live here. I found myself feeling all of these things but also with a nagging thought in my mind. Why are we only now suddenly surprised and outraged? Where was the outrage in 2015 when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their findings, detailing all of the things that are now making the rounds on the nightly news?
Let’s all sit in those thoughts and questions today, all of us who are not Indigenous and take action to learn about the harm of our colonial systems. We all live on this land, we are all responsible to learn its true past and walk together towards a future that is more equitable. Reading and listening are two very powerful ways for us to learn and understand so as I am want to do I have shared some recent favourite books over on Instagram by Indigenous authors as well as a few books in my summer reading pile. I have also included links below to book lists and podcasts so that you too can also find other ways to learn this history along with me.
I hope if you are following along that you discover a new story, a story you can share with your loved ones because the more we share these stories, the more we will accept the truth of the past and hopefully move to the future in a better way.
IBBY Canada has released their 2021 From Sea to Sea to Sea catalogue of 25 Indigenous picture books available now and you can find it along with the 2018 edition HERE.
Monique Gray Smith has an excellent video about talking about residential schools with children HERE.
David A Robertson has put together a list of 48 children’s books you can share with your littles to understand residential schools HERE. He also has a podcast Kīwew HERE.
Kaniehti:io Horn has an excellent new podcast Telling our Twisted Histories decolonizing language HERE.
The Secret Life of Canada is another amazing podcast that sheds light not only on Indigenous history but the history of many marginalized group in Canada HERE.
Finally check out CBC: Unreserved hosted by Falen Johnson HERE.
