blood money

Many Aboriginal people have stepped forward to apply for the Indian Residential School Independent Settlement. In my family, I stand alone as the only one who was not taken against my will. I can only imagine the horror of a child being dragged into a car, abducted and violated. It makes me wonder, why is this behavior so accepted in Canadian society when the child is Aboriginal? It seems to me that it’s rooted in that “as long as it’s them and not me” mentality.

For many in my family, talking about what happened in the Indian Residential Schools is a painful process. It doesn’t feel real until you know someone who has lived through that experience, until you see the tears of pain and shame in their eyes. Some have survived and have worked hard to share their traditional knowledge, while others have been consumed by their pain, some even lost to death.

If you love someone who has been taken against their will, raped, beaten, or starved, you might begin to grasp the depth of the suffering that our Aboriginal people endured when they were taken from their mothers. Watching a horror movie doesn’t truly capture the devastation unless you can imagine it happening to someone you love. I recall a Bruce Willis movie called Tears of the Sun, where a child is beaten at the beginning—it was awful and reminded me of the children in the residential schools.

Sometimes I hear people say, “It wasn’t that bad.” This sentiment has even come from a survivor who had to help dig a grave for a child beaten to death by a priest. They buried him, only for him to start knocking on the coffin, revealing he wasn’t dead after all. The reason she said it wasn’t that bad is because she is a third-generation survivor of the Indian Residential Schools. There are intergenerational effects of this genocide—systemic violence and dysfunction that plague our homes. Some children found a place with food, free from poverty, sexual abuse, and physical harm. But as a child, it’s easy to see your parents as monsters who abandoned you, not knowing the struggles that shaped them into who they are.

My mom calls it "blood money"—the money we receive to share our stories. My dad passed away before he could get his share of that blood money, meant for us. Even though Canadian society often tries to sound civilized, claiming that money doesn’t help, I can tell you it does. The only way people seem to understand accountability is through cold hard cash. It may not heal our wounds, but it provides a brief distraction from the reality of our suffering.

And still, our children continue to be taken. The truth is clear; we must stand together and raise our voices for justice. The world needs to recognize what has happened and continues to happen to our people.

For further insight into this ongoing struggle, I urge you to visit these important resources:
- Aboriginal Child Welfare (http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/aboriginal-child-welfare)
- UN Urged To Declare Canada's Treatment Of Aboriginals 'Genocide' (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/18/genocide-first-nations-aboriginals-canada-un_n_4123112.html)

Our children continue to be taken.
http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/aboriginal-child-welfare

UN Urged To Declare Canada's Treatment Of Aboriginals 'Genocide'
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/18/genocide

-first-nations-aboriginals-canada-un_n_4123112.html

Popular posts from this blog

Bear with hanging tongue

Image
The bear with the tongue hanging out of its mouth is not what you think.  Gather around, and let me share a story that carries the weight of our history, a tale that speaks of resilience and survival. Many people do not understand the significance of the tongue, often mistaking it as merely a feature of the bear. But there is much more to this story, one that we must keep alive as our Aboriginal stories, culture, and beliefs are too often appropriated for the profit of others. In our tradition, totem poles are read from the bottom up, with the tribe usually depicted at the base. It is important to note that the Gitxsan do not have a bear tribe. Instead, the bear symbolizes Russia, a powerful force that once threatened our lands. Long ago, the West Coast nations—including the Gitxsan, Nisga'a, Haida, and others—joined together to stand against Russia when they began to claim our traditional territories and take our people as slaves. Among those who suffered was a woman from th...
Read more

When the food drops

Image
I learned a lot from my grandfather and my parents just by watching them every day. We didn’t talk much about spirituality; we just lived it. Spirituality runs deep in our upbringing; it’s something that flows through our blood and is passed down by our ancestors who have gone before us. Our beliefs aren’t fancy or dramatic—there's no fire and lightning, just the spirit. We used to respect all of life, knowing that spirits are present in everything, including ourselves. God is within us and beside us; every thought we have is a prayer. I should mention that medicine can be used for harm too. Thoughts filled with hatred can be prayers as well. Some people who mix their medicine with bad intentions are called Hel'dow'gwit, or witchcraft. Over the past 50 years, many Gitxsan have changed and evolved. Sweat lodges, which were once only for hunting preparation, are now spaces for prayers and healing. Traditional gatherings have transformed into Healing Circles where we talk abou...
Read more

Burning

Image
Too often, our Gitxsan culture is romanticized, which can create an illusion that it is unattainable or far removed from the realities of our daily lives. This perception can make it seem uninviting to our young people, who may feel disconnected from the traditions and values that define us. We must remember to light the fire, to gather together, and to prepare meals with love for our family and friends. The act of burning food is not a failure but a reminder of our humanity and the lessons we learn along the way. Each meal shared is an opportunity to connect, to nurture, and to honor those we cherish. Every thought is a prayer. When we think of our loved ones who have journeyed on, they are with us in spirit, surrounding us with their love and gratitude for the respect and intention we hold in our hearts. It is in these moments that we can feel their presence, reminding us of the strength of our connections and the importance of our cultural practices. Let us not shy away from the imp...
Read more