CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
What I did on my day off (AKA national truth and reconciliation day). I struggled with what to do on this day that was different from other "days off work". I'm a bit pessemistic of the benefits of many of the "official" activities. They generally feel more performative than likely to lead to real change. Late in the day I settled on some self-study activities. It isn't much, but each of these small things at least feels real to me.
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CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
Specific things I learned.
- Very basic stuff like names of first nations [1]
- Learned about the current state of the #Wolastoqey language. Seems fairly desperate in terms of fluent speakers [2].
- Learned about the Marshall decision [3]
and the life of Donald Marshall Junior [4].
- Tried (but stalled) [5]
[1]: https://www.wabanakicollection.com/
[2]: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/point-of-view-wolastoqey-language-1.5365334
[3]: https://www.wabanakicollection.com/videos/living-treaties-part-2-aptn-investigates/
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Marshall_Jr.
[5]: https://www.wabanakicollection.com/wolastoqey-latuwewakon/#/
re: CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
the commercial, English-language radio I was listening to mentioned it a lot, tho (with a mention of "please listen to I❤️Radio's podcast on this subject") and the large department store near my place of work was closed (and said they had closed other locations across Canadia)
re: CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
@gohabsgo It's not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick, but I work for a university, and they decided to observe it.
re: CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
@bremner Thanks for the link. I don't want to read these stories, but I will read them because I should read them.
CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
@bremner At first, I was comparing it to boarding school experiences but it looks worse. I went to boarding school but my parents took us willingly, it was hard tbh but reading these stories, I feel that I did not go through anything close. But I have friends who went to catholic boarding school who recount very similar stories. It was good to really understand the context by reading the stories.
CANPOL, Truth and reconciliation.
It was a struggle to read to the end of these stories [1] of Wolostoqi and Mi'gmaw children suffering abuse in day and residential schools.
Some of these (then) children were in school at the same time as I was, and are now my neighbours and colleagues. I can't pretend this is "just" history.
[1]: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/stolen-children