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/#/
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
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.
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.