A noble vision

The article in May by Gloria Wasacase, A Good Thing, was a breath of fresh air. At long last I have read in the Presbyterian Record positive and grateful words about the ministry of our residential schools. I had come to think that our church had forgotten the devotion and the commitment of the pioneer missionaries who founded and laboured at these schools from 1884 (Round Lake) and onward. In 1934, former students from that school erected and dedicated a fieldstone cairn in memory of their beloved Dr. Hugh McKay who served among them for 40 years.
Our church established, built and staffed residential schools at a time when education was not being provided elsewhere for First Nations children. From the time the government intervened in the support and in some cases the rebuilding of some of the schools as Gloria mentioned, there was a change in the staff that worked there.
I deeply regret the traumatic events of the past half century or so which have cast a dark cloud over everything and everyone. But we must not forget the more noble vision, commitment and the intent of the half century before.
My father and his brother each taught at Round Lake school for a year prior to entering Knox College. Living in Prince Albert as we were when I was young, the Mistawasis mission and school were well known to us.
Many dedicated people devoted their lives to serve First Nations people in these schools. I give thanks also for the many children who have learned to read and write English and were otherwise prepared and enabled to enter into the world today. And I will always remember how eager Mr. Goodvoice was to have his sons in our school more than 50 years ago.
Thank you Gloria for your personal tribute.