Across Canada, individuals and groups, including schools in SECPSD, are paying respect to the 215 children whose lives were lost at the Kamloops Indian Residential School and Indigenous children throughout Canada who never returned home. While the individual stories of each of the 215 children remain unknown, the legacy of residential schools is part of our modern, collective Canadian story. It also hits close to home - the last residential school closed here in Saskatchewan in 1996.
Conversations about residential schools are happening on a national (and international) scale. These conversations and the reality of children who died at residential school evoke many emotions, including sadness, anger, and even fear for children, teens, and adults. Your kids might have questions or might be experiencing complex emotions related to grief. Grief affects us all differently, but grieving kids and teens need opportunities to be heard, to share, and to process. This list provides a bit of information to support family conversations about residential schools and the children lost:
- Start with the basics: As with any other difficult conversations, take your child's lead. It's okay to ask them questions to get a sense of what they've heard and already know about the story. Allow them to ask their own questions and use age-appropriate language. Avoid underplaying the reality of the situation whenever possible as children under 8 may not have a concrete sense of the finality of death; children and teens will also benefit from concrete language that conveys death as final.
- Make space for feelings: While learning about the 215 children whose lives were lost, and the legacy of residential schools in Canada, children and teens may feel sad, angry, or fearful. Adults can provide opportunities for young people to ask questions and helping them to both identify and express their feelings.
- Learn together: In non-Indigenous communities, the reality of residential schools has been hidden for a long time; many non-indigenous people didn't learn about residential school until they were adults or are just learning now. Learning is an important step in reconciliation - and learning alongside your kids is a great way to connect. Check out this reading list down below with engaging stories that share indigenous perspectives, available from the SECPSD online library Sora. It's free to access; you just need your student's login ID and password. For an interactive learning experience, check out the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. You can explore exhibits from home, including the Childhood Denied exhibition with powerful images and stories about residential school experiences.
- Take Action: The Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) has 94 Calls to Action, including actions for education. This child friendly version is a great way to share the calls to action as a family. Your family can take action to honour the 215 children whose lives were lost at Kamloops Indian Residential School by putting a teddy bear or shoes on your porch and leaving the light on. You can attend a vigil - either remotely or in person. And you can share hope for all people by being an ally for positive change in your community - volunteer, donate, or participate in something that makes your part of the world better.
- You don't have to be an expert: Grief really just requires a companion who is safe, cares and can listen. Learn about how to be a positive grief companion here.
- Reach out: The stories of the 215 children; the stories of children across the country who did not return from residential schools; and the stories of survivors and their families highlight a traumatic legacy. It's okay if you need additional support; please reach out for help when you or your family need it:
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
Crisis Services Canada 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310
Indian Residential School Survivors and Family 1-866-925-4419