Catherine Restoule, the author's grandmother, had her culture taken from her a century ago when she was swept off to residential school as a child.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Ahnnii, Boozhoo, I hope you are all doing OK in this new school year beginning.
I am reflecting a lot this year on our Indigenous children re-entering the same schools that have not changed much. Sept. 5 marks 100 years since my grandmother’s first day in a residential school. I wonder what she may have shared about her experiences in that place had she been asked.
I know she did not teach our family the language, traditional medicines, teachings or ceremony all through the rest of her life. She practiced the Catholic religion from that time 100 years ago until her passing in June 2008 at 93 years of age.
I heard stories of my granny using some of the traditional medicines to save one of my aunties, but only using them when modern medicine was not working. I feel so robbed by residential schools of the richness of our ways.
My granny was kind, generous and hospitable despite the way they were treated in school; I know she chose not to teach our ways to protect her children and grandchildren from the atrocities she had to endure.
My hope is that the ancestors whose graves have been found near residential schools are revealing themselves in order to effect change in our society and systems, and to start telling the truth about our shared history of Turtle Island.
I encourage people to try to imagine what a community would feel, sound and look like with all the children forcefully taken away. Imagine then what it would be like to know you could not see them until holidays, the beginning of summer or, often, never again.
This truth needs to be taught to all who live here on Turtle Island, starting at a young age, so we can work on changing the system which is still oppressing the First People and all other minorities.
I drummed and sang for my grandsons this past weekend and hope to keep them interested in our culture and way of life so they can practice and teach it to their children and grandchildren.
I remember my granny being so proud of my cousin Robbie because he started dancing pow-wow. She would always show off her pictures of him in his regalia and would talk about him to anyone who would listen.
I know that pride came from missing those things she saw before she attended residential school. I did not start my journey back to ceremony until she had returned to the Spirit World; I know she is very proud that I have been working on regaining the knowledge of our teachings.
I feel her presence often when I am having hard times, I also ask her for guidance when I need it.
I call on my ancestors every day to guide me on my journey of decolonization and balanced living, while I help teach and guide our young people on the discovery of their own greatness. I tell my Indigenous students, brothers and sisters that we are the best of the best of the best because we are still here despite all the attempts to eliminate us.
I am proud to be Anishinaabe from O’Kikendawt miinwa N’Bisiing First Nations here on Turtle Island. Until next time I wish you balance and good life.
Miigizi-Waasa-Ewabit.
David Restoule is the Indigenous support services specialist at Medicine Hat College.
