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Inuit throat singers perform at TRC's Education Day
-Photo by Yuet Chan
ATA News staff attended the Alberta Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) event, hosted at the Shaw Conference Centre, in Edmonton, from March 27–30. The Alberta stop marked the last of seven events that have been taking place across the country, starting in 2010.
We asked volunteers, hosts, students, teachers, organizers and elder Theresa Strawberry for their impressions of the event. Here’s what they had to say:
"We need to look beyond the pain and resentment and blame. I encourage survivors and descendants of survivors to look at their pain, but not to live in it. It’s our responsibility to educate the public."—Theresa Strawberry, elder
"I really believe that with each generation there is a chance to create Canada anew. When you listen to children and youth and show them the truth, they understand. They will embrace the truth and take action. It’s the doing that creates change. I think that’s the real opportunity of raising a generation of Inuit, Métis, First Nations and others who respect their differences and honour one another and walk towards a common purpose."—Cindy Blackstock, youth panel host
"The music stood out for me the most. I’ve learned about reconciliation and the effect of residential schools even today. I really liked the Hidden Legacies video and the video about the jingle dresses [made by Ben Calf Robe School]. The drumming and dances were my favourite part of the day."—Students, Chief Jacob Bearspaw Memorial School
"There is a large cultural rejuvenation happening now in Inuit culture and it is being led by the youth. We are taking it upon ourselves to learn about our art, language and history."—Jenna Broomfield, youth panellist and throat singer
"My Grade 10 students attended the ‘Breaking the Stereotypes’ session through the live webcast. It was a fantastic setup for classrooms. When the participants at the session broke up to reflect on questions, we did the same in the classroom. My students had the time to pause and reflect on how stereotypes affect Aboriginal people. They learned that they can be a part of the problem by perpetuating stereotypes or they can work to go beyond stereotypes and break the problem."—Elaine Willette-Larsen, teacher, St. Thomas Aquinas School, Provost
"It’s been fabulous to see so many people from different races, religions and backgrounds come together in the name of education and our history."—Kathy Camara, volunteer
"More than 2,300 students and 500-plus educators from 97 different schools took part in Education Day. For us to have the opportunity to connect and engage with that many students from that many places is an excellent start to making sure the residential school story is told. What will be really significant is what they will do with their learning when they go back to their schools, their communities and their places of work. I think that collectively, as a team of educators and people from the TRC, we succeeded in creating a positive and inspiring first step for the students and educators."—Charlene Bearhead, coordinator, Education Day
