Dear Freedom Writer by The Freedom Writers & Erin Gruwell

Author:The Freedom Writers & Erin Gruwell [The Freedom Writers & Gruwell, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crown
Published: 2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Dear Not a Victim, but Now a Survivor,

As an Indigenous Cree woman from the Treaty 6 Territory, I want to commend you for initiating a dialogue that can be uncomfortable and disheartening for any human being. I also want to begin by acknowledging your pain, anger, and all emotions that come with this complex form of trauma that unjustly slapped you clear in the face. Your ability to share your story will inspire others with immense hope, understanding, and empathy.

It is time for Indigenous people to speak their truths, and your story is an example of just that. I remember an elder stating, “To truly understand comfort, we must know and feel discomfort.” Your words of wisdom, and the risk you take in sharing, help to substantiate this statement. Truthfully and sadly, the pain you experienced on that horrible day has been imprinted on our people for such long periods of time. Unfortunately, these incidents are not isolated, nor are they uncommon to many Indigenous women. We have been targets since even before we reached this physical world, and far too often, we continue to be subjected to these terrible encounters. It is time for change, and change we will create. You come from a long line of people of dignity, strength, and resilience. By stepping forward, you are showing the country, the world, and our people that we are returning and reconnecting to our original selves once again. These actions are one step closer to taking our power and pride back.

This country carries a malicious and egocentric history that is only starting to be recognized today. The climbing number of unmarked grave sites is forcibly encouraging this country to wake up. Metaphorically speaking, the rapes began hundreds of years ago. The ongoing attempts of genocide, colonization, and assimilation have been imposed on our people for centuries. Instead of righting the wrongs, this country made heroes out of those who raped us of our way of life, while silencing the voices of those who were violated. Statues of John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, are still situated in the most precious lands. And for what—to celebrate the architect who designed and constructed Indian residential school systems? These systems were designed to rid this country of the “Indian Problem.” They brought forth practices of abuse upon innocent children that are unthinkable. These schoolhouses became a playground for narcissistic, abusive, and disgusting actions. They continue to leave a haunting legacy of historical trauma among the First People of Turtle Island.

We are learning through testimonies of residential school survivors; it was in these cold brick structures that our ancestors started to experience various forms of abuse. And because of this, today we still feel these pains both directly and indirectly, also known as intergenerationally. The night you were assaulted represents the assaults of many others and many years of similar behaviors that were accepted and hidden. These schools, which promised to teach, save, and “civilize” our babies, did the exact opposite.

For my entire life, I exhausted myself trying to understand the translation of the word “civilized.

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