05/31/2021
There is a free university course offered to educate ourselves. Amazing resources here for everyone in every classification.
For non-Indigenous people…
Settlers, it is important to acknowledge the benefits of living the lives you do, due to the Indian Residential School system and settler colonialism. Settlers too have been greatly impacted by this system, and continue to receive benefits from it today.
Indigenous people sharing these stories and experiences is not to make you feel guilty, but to bring awareness to the truths of Indigenous experiences in Canada. Acknowledging and confronting these truths is not a comfortable process, but it is necessary. As settlers, there is a responsibility to do the work to learn, and advocate for and reconcile with Indigenous Peoples.
There is power in learning and education, and it is a great place to begin the reconciliation process in your life.
We have compiled a list of free and informative resources on residential schools that may provide insight and value to you during this time.
Along with these resources, you should also learn about who’s land you live on, contact your local elected officials and ask them what they are doing to make positive change, and do the work to have conversations with and educate settlers in your lives about why this is important.
Reconciliation benefits all of us, and is a start to making our world a better, safer place for everyone. This work does not end here, it is ongoing, but there is no better time to start then today.
Resources For non-Indigenous People:
http://www.trc.ca/resources.html #:~:text=A%20Indian%20Residential%20Schools%20Crisis,or%20her%20residential%20school%20experience.
Assembly of First Nations – Its Our Time - Residential Schools Toolkit
https://education.afn.ca/afntoolkit/learning-module/residential-schools/
Aboriginal Healing Foundation – Residential School Resources Directory
http://www.ahf.ca/publications/residential-school-resources
Indigenous Canada - Free University Course | University of Alberta
https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html
An Overview of the Indian Residential School System booklet
http://www.anishinabek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/An-Overview-of-the-IRS-System-Booklet.pdf