Hello Chestermere-Strathmore readers.
I want to thank Shannon Dean, the amazing camp director of Camp Chestermere, for the beautiful event he held at Camp Chestermere. This past weekend we gathered at Camp Chestermere to honour 215 children who died in the residential school located in Kamloops, BC. Thank you to our elders, Ruth Scalplock and Charlotte McLeod, for the opening prayers and smudging ceremonies, to the folks from the Lions Club of Chestermere, Trellis folks Shelley Wade and Christie Moran, and Councilor Narayan for his beautiful presentation and Councilors Foat, Young and His Worship Mayor Chalmers for their attendance.
I was honoured to stand in a space we share with our indigenous sisters and brothers on Treaty 7 territory, Metis region three brothers and sisters, and Inuit peoples, trying to comprehend what we have learned, how we feel, and what needs to be done. I want to speak to you about love and kindness. About the ability to stand and stand taller. These little souls were removed from their families. These were little souls that were not able to learn about who they are. They were murdered, beaten, died of neglect, starvation, and disease. This cultural genocide happened for generations, and that pain is ours to bear collectively in society today. We are grieving with our First Nations families, who have been here for thousands of years before us. Is this an uncomfortable discussion? You bet, and that is our opportunity to do better and be better. Collectively you and I, every one of us, hold the opportunity to lead and make decisions that will change the culture shift to understanding, listening, and healing. It is time to end the status quo and work alongside our elders, sisters, and brothers to build trust and relationships. You may ask, what can I do? Well, we have our first peoples here, all around us, with us, joining us as they mourn this loss and many more that will be discovered. Ask these beautiful humans, those who may be survivors or have a family member who is: what do you need, how can I help, how do we heal, and what needs to be done?
As a government, I have a list of things that can be accomplished, and I would like to add my voice as a mom, as a family member, as a treaty person to promise to work harder, be better, and lead by example. These were children – belonging to a family, community, and a Nation – who were forcibly stolen from their homes under the authority of the Canadian government and never returned. This land was and is their home, and they should have been safe here. Residential schools operated between 1893 and 1996 across Canada. Of the 134 schools, at least 25 operated in Alberta. For generations, Indigenous parents had their children taken to attend schools away from their families, communities, languages, and culture. The tragic legacy of residential schools is still present today, and it is through concrete action, our government will support survivors, their families, and their communities. Recently, the Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rick Wilson, has announced the Alberta government’s intention to fund research into the undocumented deaths and burials of hundreds of Indigenous children who did not make their way home. The details of this funding will be announced in the coming days. Every June, we celebrate the diverse history, languages, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples. This year it is especially important that we take the time to educate ourselves about the past and the role we all have in reconciliation and decolonization.
As always, we love to hear from you.
