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“Wearing orange T-shirts that read “All children matter” some 200 aboriginal people and their allies walked from City Hall to Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary School in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Wednesday to raise awareness about the legacy of residential schools.
The elementary school was once the site of the St. Joseph’s residential school.
“I have physical, sexual, emotional marks on me, and every time I come here that little boy wants to come out and scream and yell and strike out at authority,” said 72-year-old St. Joseph’s survivor Jim Chicago, as participants gathered for the walk.
“Today I follow our way and not the Christian way, and it’s helped me a lot,” he said, adding he has now been married for more than 30 years and has relationships with all of his children. “I can walk around with a sort of emotional stable mind today,”
Chicago said he was participating in the walk to help pass on knowledge about residential school to younger generations.
“For me, the walk is nothing. The pain of walking at 72-years-old is nothing compared to the pain I received at residential school,” said an emotional Chicago. “So I do it for the kids.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum said it’s important for young people to understand their history. She said the presence of youth at the walk was encouraging for survivors.”
– CBC News, Thunder Bay First Nations people, allies mark Orange Shirt Day.
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Indian Country 52
Indian Country 52 is a weekly project by David Bernie that uses the medium of posters that promote issues and stories in Indian Country.
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