Peyakow by Darrel McLeod

Author:Darrel McLeod
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Complete silence. People glanced around, catching each other’s gazes across the room, then looking away. Mitch kept his head down.

And so it is the Nuu-chah-nulth experiences which bring us here today. Many Nuu-chah-nulth children did not escape this tragedy. Former Nuu-chah-nulth students have made disclosures of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and about losing their connection to their culture, language and families.

Mitch coughed and cleared his throat. Stillness reigned in the room.

Sadly, some Nuu-chah-nulth former students have had to tell of their experiences in a courtroom. These are not easy stories to hear. We can only imagine how hard they are to tell, and how much harder yet they were to have lived. We are all humbled by the dignity and courage these individuals have shown in coming forward and sharing these experiences.

Former students have talked about the loneliness which resulted from separation from families and that this separation led to the loss of relationships with their families. Many of the students returned to their communities unable to take up their responsibilities within their families or communities due to a loss of language and a loss of knowledge of traditional ceremonies.

We will never hear the stories of those children who died in an Indian residential school and did not return home.

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