Much attention has been paid to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 report on Canadian residential schools and the terrible treatment of aboriginal children.
The report makes for tough reading because it is difficult to comprehend how this cultural genocide ever began and continued for so long. One of the report’s many calls to action is to educate Canadian children about the history of residential schools. As a result, B.C. schools have added kindergarten-to-Grade-12 content on aboriginal history. For those interested in learning more about this topic, some excellent memoirs and non-fiction overviews have been published in the past few years that will resonate with young readers.
Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Residential Schools by Melanie Florence (Toronto, Lorimer) $34.95
Part of an excellent series that covers the topic with numerous photographs, source material, maps and links to video clips and other online resources. Includes the text of the government’s apology and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
Project of Heart: Illuminating the Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in BC (The BC Teachers’ Federation), free eBook at bctf.ca/hiddenhistory
A resource primarily designed for teachers, but truly a wonderfully well-written and designed publication that covers the whole history of residential schools very concisely in 40 pages. Also has links to more information.
When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton; art by Gabrielle Grimard (Toronto, Annick) $9.95
This picture book and its sequel, Not my Girl, were both adapted from chapter books for middle-grade readers due in part to the developing interest in the residential school experience. Olemaun is an Inuit girl who longs to learn to read, even if it means travelling far from her Arctic home on Banks Island. Margaret does indeed learn to read, but at a great price. A compelling story with beautiful illustrations.
Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell; illustrated by Kim LaFave (Toronto, Groundwood) $16.95
Gorgeous illustrations grace the pages of this bittersweet tale of a child treasuring her last few days at home before being sent to residential school. Shi-shi-etko gathers her memories of her family and her world to keep close to her heart after the forced separation from the people and places that she loves. The poetic cadence of the text matches the illustrations. I treasure my signed copy of this book!
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These are just a few of the wonderful books available for children now. Read Larry Loyie’s As Long as the Rivers Flow and Sylvia Olsen’s chapter book for older readers, No Time to Say Goodbye, which tells the stories of B.C. aboriginal kids who were sent to Kuper Island Residential School. All of these books are powerfully compelling reads and will serve to enlighten those who wish to learn about this dark period in Canadian history.
Fran Ashdown was the children’s librarian at the Capilano branch of the North Vancouver District Public Library. She remembers her parents pointing out Christie Residential School on the west coast of Vancouver Island. For more information check your local libraries.
