July 1 a ‘day of hurt’ for local Indigenous leader

“Three-year-olds didn’t belong in the Red Deer Industrial School when it was open (1893-1919) or in any school like that, no matter what it was called. This date is one that as Indigenous people, we all must find some way to heal and get past because holding onto the pain and anger will simply continue to hurt our communities.”

The belief in many Indigenous communities, she explains, is that one’s actions today affect the seven generations before and seven which come after.

“Even for adults who weren’t in these schools, they’re affected by the fact their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were, and they learned how to parent their own kids like an institution,” says St. Denys, who has family and friends that survived, but were changed by residential schools.

“We still see those kinds of parenting styles. It’s changing slowly, but those schools abused people for over 100 years, and it’s going to take a long time to rebuild.”

The only event happening in Red Deer next Thursday is fireworks (11 p.m. at Westerner Park), with previously obtained funding from Heritage Canada.

Delores Coghill, manager, Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society, which organizes the annual party and light show typically at Bower Ponds, knew in May the pandemic’s third wave had rendered a full Canada Day celebration virtually impossible. The devastating Kamloops residential school announcement finalized their decision to cancel.

“Like everybody else, we were in mourning. The thought of celebrating Canada when Canada isn’t actually looking so good as a people, didn’t seem right,” says Coghill.

“Our society also has Indigenous members, and they’ve participated in the past but it hasn’t been a day they’ve really celebrated. Why would they when their land was taken away from them? Canada Day is a European or settlers’ idea of everything.”

Shining Mountains, Red Deer Native Friendship Society, Urban Aboriginal Voices Society and the Metis Local all sit on the society’s board. Coghill says fireworks are continuing as money was already spent, but she hopes those who observe them will reflect on the painful recoveries made this past month.

“When we were talking about Canada Day celebrations, those organizations didn’t ask us not to. We decided out of respect that we wouldn’t.”

A virtual celebration will go out on the society’s Facebook page ahead of July 1.

St. Denys agrees platitudes count for nothing without meaningful reconciliatory action by non-Indigenous people.

“Not all people approach things the same way, so learning comes first, but really learning, not just with their heads, but in their hearts; and trying to understand what it means to lose your children, not just into the school, but for them to simply disappear,” she says.

“People must know we’re not attacking or blaming them. They’re not guilty of what was done in the schools, but they are responsible for their behaviours now. When we see social media posts that say these schools happened 100 years ago, telling us to get over it because it’s ancient history, well no.

“We still have adults with scars on their tongues from punishment, we still have people who are now adults… my dad had his hand tied to his desk because he was left-handed and they didn’t want him to write with his left hand, and that wasn’t even in a residential school. That was in a quote-unquote public school.”

As pandemic restrictions ease, Shining Mountains will resume offering a series of cultural sharing and awareness sessions, all available to the public.

“The hurt never really goes away, but one does learn to deal with it,” says St. Denys. “On July 1, I’m going to hold my family and count my blessings. Indigenous people I know are not going to celebrate that day.”

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Supports are available for those affected by the ongoing impacts of residential schools, and those triggered by recent media reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

July 1 a ‘day of hurt’ for local Indigenous leader

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