The first national event of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began with great expectations as hundreds of people gathered round the sacred fire at the Oodena Celebration Circle at the Forks in Winnipeg. A pipe and drum ceremony along with Christian prayers in Cree, French and English set the stage for the sharing of stories.
Hundreds more joined the official opening as Justice Murray Sinclair, lead commissioner of the TRC, reminded those gathered that the purpose of the four-day event was to hear the full range of stories that came out of the residential school experience — the bad and the good, the horrific and the funny. Students, teachers and staff, and anyone else who felt impacted by the schools, were invited to tell their stories. While many of the former students (often called survivors) are now seniors, the stories are from their childhoods. The commissioners use this reality to define their mission: “We do this for the child taken and the parent left behind.”
The Presbyterian Church’s moderator, Rev. Dr. Herb Gale, was present, and all four churches that operated residential schools (Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United) were represented, and provided lunch for 1,200 people during the event.
Over the 160-year history of the Indian Residential School system in Canada, approximately 130 schools were operated under the auspices of the government and the churches. Prior to 1925, the PCC operated nine schools. Five of those schools became the responsibility of the United Church in 1925, leaving the PCC with Cecilia Jeffrey at Shoal Lake and later Kenora, Ont., and Birtle, Man. The federal government took over complete control in 1969, closing the last school in 1996.
Through rain and wind and threat of tornado, the stories were told. In public listening circles, 150 former students told their stories to the commissioners. Another 275 told their stories privately to statement-takers and video cameras. Nearly 1,000 former students registered their presence at the event; an estimated 500 more attended but chose not to register.
In the interfaith tent, the churches spoke not only their sorrow over their participation in the schools but also of what is being done to support healing and reconciliation. During sharing time, a former student was given the microphone. With a huge smile on her face, she began, “I am free. Yesterday I told my story to the commissioners. It is the first time I have told my story. Last night it felt like a weight had been lifted from me. I forgive you all. I am free.”
The event also enabled non-aboriginal people to learn about the schools, to bear witness to the stories told, and to experience aboriginal culture. About 5,000 people visited the learning tent with its poster displays of the schools and hundreds of photographs. The photos were a powerful draw for former students hoping to see themselves, siblings and friends.
The rain ended overnight Friday; Saturday dawned clear and bright. Justice Sinclair commented that it was as though creation itself was weeping over the stories told and was cleansing the survivors with its tears.
At the closing ceremonies, the entire assembly held hands as the drummers led a traveling song. With fireworks, the first national event came to an end.
