National Day of Truth and Reconciliation a chance to learn 'real history' of Canada, says First Nations MPP
Day is important to educate Canadians on history of residential schools, says Ontario MPP Sol Mamakwa
Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa is calling on individual Canadians to learn more about Canada's legacy of residential schools and oppression of Indigenous peoples on the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
"If I can change one person's mind about the real history of the other Canada, I think I would have done my job," Mamakwa told As It Happens host Carol Off on Thursday. Mamakwa is a member of Kingfisher Lake First Nation and represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong in northwestern Ontario. He is a residential school survivor.
The day is a federal statutory holiday, fulfiling one of the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
On Parliament Hill, people gathered to honour children who did not make it home from residential schools.
"Canada must heal on the foundation of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom and love and kindness and respect," said Algonquin Elder Claudette Commanda. "Take this beautiful gift that we're offering you. Learn. Listen. And we'll walk together, to turn this country into a beautiful country for all our children."
Here is part of Sol Mamakwa's conversation with Carol Off.
Mr. Mamakwa, what do you reflect on when you hear those powerful words from Claudette Commanda on Parliament Hill this morning?
I could not help but feel her plea to Canada, to Canadians about how we should be honouring the children. I could feel the emotion.
Her message was to Canadians to take this opportunity ... take this knowledge and walk with us. Do you think people are doing that on this day?
Not everybody is aware of what's happening, what has happened in Canada when we talk about Indian residential school, when we talk about oppression, racism, colonialism ... not everybody's aware of it, and I think this is an opportunity to be able to move beyond words to action. It is a day for governments, but also, you know, people to make commitments to ensure that there is justice, to ensure that there is equity and dignity for Indigenous people and especially Indigenous children.
That awareness would have been included in having a statutory holiday to mark this day of reconciliation. This is something you asked for, for Ontario and the legislature where you work. And Ontario ignored your call to make today a statutory holiday.... What do you say to the Ontario government refusing to have this as a recognized statutory holiday?
I'd say to the government, refusing to make September 30th, a provincial-wide statutory holiday, this is a mistake. This is offside. This is how the work that needs to be done, this is how reconciliation with Indigenous people, gets moved to the back burner by governments.
When we talk about genocide, genocide is a big deal. If thousands of non-Indigenous children died after being stolen forcibly from their parents, their families, their communities, their nations, we would not be having this discussion. We would not be having this debate. I think for far too long, they're denying the truth. They're refusing to accept it, and that's why it's so important to have everyone ... have a day to reflect.
Have a day, you know, to honour the children that never came home, to remember. To mourn for them, to cry for them and honour not only the children that never came home, but also, you know, honour the survivors, the families that continue to suffer from the intergenerational trauma because of ... the Indian residential school.
If thousands of non-Indigenous children died after being stolen forcibly from their parents, their families, their communities, their nations, we would not be having this discussion.- Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa
You are yourself a survivor of the residential school system.
Yes, I went to the residential school system. But I did not know that it was that. I did not know that I was going to a residential school. I just accepted that's just the way things were. When we talk about some of the issues that we faced, when you cannot speak your language, when you get into trouble for speaking your language, when you're forced to .... go to church and then not only that, if you did not follow the strict rules and that there was, you know, strapping. I have friends that have been strapped, that went through that.
In Ontario ... the minister of education, Stephen Lecce, has announced that there is going to be expanded teaching for younger grades about Indigenous children, about Indigenous issues. They're already in some of the later grades, but this is now going to be for younger kids.... Does that make a difference for you?
I think a little bit of difference. I mean, I still remember three years ago when this government came into power ... they cancelled the Indigenous curriculum writing sessions that were happening. And I think this government is ... backtracking again, you know, going a 180 on this, you know, something that they cancelled before. And I can say that, you know, the cut was very wrong and now it translates into years of delays. And many kids in Ontario are missing this opportunity, [an] important learning opportunity to be able to make change.
Today is the 1st National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and most importantly, Orange Shirt Day.<br><br>It is an opportunity for all to reflect on the truth of Canada’s history & the ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by Indian Residential Schools.<br><br>Stand with us for hope&change. <a href="https://t.co/mlrqTuya4s">pic.twitter.com/mlrqTuya4s</a>
—@solmamakwaDo you worry that people will put on the orange T-shirt, that they will ... react to things online and push "Like" on a tweet or feel that they have done something, feel that that's their contribution, and then forget about the real action that's needed?
I worry about that. But not to a point where I get concerned about it. But I think it's so important that, you know, like again, it's about changing the thought of the person that's sitting in his living room in Ottawa and Mississauga and Calgary, you know, that they know the real history.
One of the things that we did as Indigenous people is welcome settlers to come into this place that we call Canada now, and that treaties were based on, these agreements were based on, sharing the resources, sharing the land. And we have to be able to remember that. And I think that's all part of the education that needs to happen.
Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and for those who are triggered by these reports.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for residential school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
Written by Andrea Bellemare. Produced by Kate Swoger. This interview has been edited and condensed.
