The Survivors Speak

For over a hundred years, Indigenous children were forced to go to residential schools, most of the schools were hundred miles from their home and they suffered physical and sexual abuse there. Most of the Indigenous people addicted to drugs and alcohol in order to get rid of the horrible memories and this habit affected several generations. Nowadays, many Indigenous people suffer the discrimination and poor living conditions. With the help from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, their living conditions get better and their voices can be heard. The society needs the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it educates Canadians about the history of residential schools, it preserves the history of the Canadian residential schools …show more content…
The increasing impact of residential schools passed several generations. People suffered in the residential schools as they were beaten and abused by the teachers. However, most of the truth and experiences were hidden by the government until the survivors stood up and spoke to the public about their experiences in residential schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission collected statements from people who survived from residential school. They put the comments in a report, called The Survivors Speak. This report was published and shared in public, therefore, people in Canada will be able to know Indigenous people’s experiences and realize their situation. The report states that many students learned how to hide their feelings in order to avoid abuse. Margaret Simpson, who attended a residential school in Alberta, shared her survival skills, “I learned how to lie, so that I will get away with whatever they wanted me to do. I had a really hard time even after I left the residential school to be able to tell the truth because it became such a habit for me.” The report also mentions that many students suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Stella Marie Tookate, who attended a residential school in Ontario, said, “I didn’t enjoy myself when I was in school because I was too much abused. I didn’t learn anything; that’s what I was feeling.” These words from survivors help every …show more content…
The Commission believes that “Reconciliation is about forging and maintaining respectful relationships. There are no shortcuts.” On June 11, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology to the former students of Canada’s Indian residential school system, calling it a “sad chapter in our history. The reconciliation might take multiple generations, but it will be achieved one day. Canadian society and Indigenous people’s relationship suffered because of the residential school system. The Commission held multiple national events to reveal the truth and repair the relationships between Canadian society and Indigenous people. The commission strives to build better relationships between Canadian Society and Indigenous people, this is essential for the society and will make a stronger Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission becomes essential in the society as it educates Canadians about the history of residential schools, it preserves the memorable history of the residential schools system and legacy and it strives to build better relationships between Canadian society and Indigenous people. The commission gives every Canadian a essential lesson that remind every individual to remember the wrong choices that the ancestors made and this affected the Indigenous people negatively, and the society needs to repair