Walk from residential school a healing experience

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This article was published 08/07/2021 (1402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Close to 70 people joined a walk from Birtle Residential School to Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation on Canada Day, marking a healing moment for residential school survivors, family members and others who took part in the day’s events.

Organizing the walk was Trechelle Bunn, a 21-year-old Wampum resident whose home first nation is Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation.

Originally planning to attend the Cancel Canada Day protest in Winnipeg, Bunn said she decided it would be better to do something more personal.

That’s why she decided to take the five hour drive from her RM of Piney community to organize the event.

Approaching Birdtail chief and council with the idea was the first step. Bunn said they responded with support offering vehicles to give people rides to the school, as well as water. She also received interest on social media. “The biggest question I got was whether the walk was open to everyone,” she said. “We did have quite a few non-Indigenous people reach out, and I think they wanted the confirmation that they were welcome.”

“We were happy to have them there,” she added. “I think a big part of reconciliation is making sure that everyone is involved.”

The Birtle Residential School had deaths as well. “There were 18 recorded deaths at the Birtle School but as my grandparents and other survivors in my community have told me, they believe that number to be a lot higher,” she said.

Bunn said the day was originally intended to be about educating people on Canada Day. But it quickly turned into something else.

“I think it turned more into honouring our survivors and those who never made it home, and more like a healing journey,” she said.

At a feast held after the walk, Bunn said survivors commented on how important it was to be able to leave freely and willingly from the school that once held them captive.

Making the event special for Bunn was the opportunity to spend time with her grandparents, both residential school survivors. She said her grandfather often spoke about how he wanted nothing more than to go home.

“He saw what the consequences were if you ran away and I think that obviously stopped him because they were life threatening,” she said.

Bunn said she’s noticing a new attitude from Canadians when it comes to residential schools.

“It’s terrible, but the recoveries have opened up the eyes of Canadians and the world of the injustices and the mistreatment Indigenous peoples have been facing,” she said.

And for Bunn, the word “recovery” is important.

“Everyone’s calling them discoveries when they’re actually recoveries,” she said. “Stories of children being buried on residential school properties in great numbers have been what I’ve been hearing since I was a young girl. They’re stories Indigenous people have been telling for generations and Canada just chose to ignore them.”

A small ceremony including a song and prayer offered to the grounds took place at the school which Bunn said was also important.

“Any Indigenous culture was banned by the Indian Act and it definitely would not have been allowed on residential school property so I think the whole day was pretty symbolic of reclaiming that space,” she said.

Bunn said she’s encouraging people who are learning about the legacy of residential schools the first time to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.

As of May 2020, only 10 of 94 calls to action had been completed, although 60 more are considered to be “in progress”.

“People say ‘our thoughts and prayers are with you’ but that only can take us so far,” she said. “The thoughts and prayers are appreciated but we need action more than anything.”

Bunn admits to having mixed emotions on the issue, feeling anger and sadness. But she also can see a better future.

“I still feel angry, but I do feel hopeful for the future and I think this generation is definitely rising up and we’re going to be heard and our ancestors are going to be heard,” she said. “We’re all fighting for everything our parents and grandparents were denied and I think that gives a lot of hope for the future.”

Bunn said it’s important people realize that their anger is not directed at all Canadians, or all of Canada.

“The anger is obviously built up,” she said. “Colonization still impacts us today and I think that people being open to learning is a big step forward.”