The Red Deer Indian Industrial School, as it was known, operated from 1893 to 1919, with an estimated 350 kids attending over the years. (Red Deer & District Archives-DA971)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

"HOW WILL YOU RECONCILE?"

Guest speaker educates on Indigenous history ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sep 25, 2024 | 4:01 PM

Truth was the focus of a storytelling session by Patricia Marshall in the days leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

On September 25, Marshall spoke in the Cornerstone room at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) about the historical relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Government of Canada through both research and her own experiences.

“I was hoping for attendees to learn about the whole reason behind truth and reconciliation. What is the truth, and once you know it, how will you reconcile?” she said.

Marshall walked attendees through significant actions that impacted herself and her ancestors, including the signing of the treaties, establishing the reservation system and other restrictions along with it, and the Residential School system.

She called Residential Schools the “atrocities of Canada” and said they violated the spirit and intents of the treaties that were signed beginning in 1871.

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The first Residential School in Canada opened in 1831 and in 1920, the Indian Act made attendance compulsory for Treaty Status children aged 7-15. Marshall said these schools starved and experimented on children, cut their hair, which is a sacred symbol to the culture, and severely punished the use of traditional languages and the practice of traditional dances and ceremonies. Overall, she said survivor stories have shown her that it was less of an education system, and more of a work camp designed to eradicate their culture.

“Today we suffer such intergenerational trauma, you see it in the streets every day,” as she reflected on the impact of the schools.

Marshall said that today, there are still actions taken, or rather not taken, by the federal government that contribute to the lasting issues. Namely, she mentioned a lack of adequate funding for safe drinking water, comfortable homes and the maintenance of roads in reserves, as well as health and dental care and the revitalization of traditional languages.

“They live in deplorable conditions,” she said, “and they shouldn’t have to with the wealth of this country.”

Along with other activities, more authentic stories will be shared in the week leading up to Sept. 30 at RDP. More information and a full schedule can be found here.

Related: Student perspective on truth and reconciliation takes centre stage at Red Deer Polytechnic

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