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Voices of Residential School Attendees and Families

Over 130 residential schools operated in Canada. The first federal residential school began around 1883; the last closed in 1996.

We Stand Together invites Indian residential school and day school survivors, 60’s Scoop, and intergenerational survivors to share their truth. This project is an opportunity for those on their journeys of healing to share their experiences and perspectives so all can learn about the effects of residential and day schools and the challenges Indigenous communities still face.

Disclaimer – Some of the details discussed in these episodes contain stories of violence and abuse and could be triggering to some. 
Viewer discretion is advised.
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Natasha Whitebear

Natasha Whitebear is from Treaty 5, Berens River First Nation, but has lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, almost her entire life, only living in Berens River when she was four to five years old. As an intergenerational survivor, she has seen the effects residential school and the ’60s Scoop have had on her parents.

Joanne Nimik

Joanne Nimik, Flying Eagle Woman, is from the Bear Clan and an intergenerational survivor. Joining Chance Paupanakis of the Akiing Onji Foundation, she shares that everyone has a story. Some stories are so painful they leave an impact for decades or life. She describes one experience she had with her mother when asking to learn her traditional language, a question her mother never responded to.

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Gayle Pruden

Gayle Pruden is a Two-Spirit woman. Raised by her grandmother, she was reminded to keep her language, Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), which she still speaks fluently. Called by others “Gookom Gayle,” she opens doors for trans, Two-Spirit, and other youth.

Amelia Williams

Amelia Williams is from Bloodvein First Nation, a community located on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Williams was young when her family moved to the city. However, most of the family would lose their language while living in Winnipeg, with only two of Williams’ siblings still speaking fluently.

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Alice Everette

Host Chance Paupanakis of the Akiing Onji Foundation joins Alice Everette to hear her truth. Everette, whose Indigenous name is White Turtle Woman, is a 70s Scoop survivor, part of the 60s Scoop, which lasted from roughly 1961 to the 1980s.

We Stand Together

Circles for Reconciliation

Circles for Reconciliation is an organization to establish trusting, meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Grace and Debbie from Circles share the fantastic work of the organization and what personal reconciliation looks like.

Diandre Thomas-Hart

Diandre Thomas-Hart, Young Woman Who Stands Among The Eagles, was given the Crane Clan and grew up in Winnipeg’s North End. She has been urban her entire life. Hart’s mother was a 60s Scoop survivor, and her father has many within his family who are survivors of the Indian residential school system.

Gloria

Gloria is an intergenerational survivor and a survivor of the 60s Scoop. Her late mother was a survivor of the Canadian Indian residential school system. Gloria experienced tremendous discrimination and racism growing up, experiencing it from the nuns who taught on the reserve and from classmates when she eventually moved to Winnipeg.

Gramma Shingoose

Geraldine “Gramma” Shingoose is a residential school survivor who attended Muscowequan Residential School from 1962 to 1971. An Elder in her community, she has seen the effects of residential school, day school, the 60s Scoop, racism, and discrimination on the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

Kelly Houle

Kelly Houle’s family is from Sandy Bay First Nation, but she has lived in Winnipeg most of her life. Houle has had a difficult life, struggling with mental health and addictions after the abuse she experienced within the Canadian residential school System.

Louis Koszas

Now in his 60s, Louis Koszas remembers his time as a ward of the Children’s Aid Society. In and out of many homes, Koszas reflects on some experiences that still affect him today.

We Stand Together

Over 130 residential schools operated in Canada. The first federal residential school began around 1883; the last closed in 1996.

We Stand Together invites Indian residential school and day school survivors, 60’s Scoop, and intergenerational survivors to share their truth. This project is an opportunity for those on their journeys of healing to share their experiences and perspectives so all can learn about the effects of residential and day schools and the challenges Indigenous communities still face.

We Stand Together is the 2021 Canadian Ethnic Media Award of Journalistic Excellence in the podcast category.

 
Indian Residential School Survivors Society

A helpline for residential school survivors can be reached at 1-866-925-4419.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society is a British Columbia-based organization providing services to residential school survivors for over 20 years. It started by helping residential school survivors navigate the court systems and has since expanded to help residential school survivors and engage in community education for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. You can donate here. 

Previous episodes

Mabel Horton is from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Horton shares her experiences with residential schools so that newcomers to this country can learn how many Indigenous peoples were treated at these schools.

Vivian Ketchum, a writer and photographer, tells her stories and what reconciliation means from the Indigenous perspective. The residential school system took a tremendous toll on Ketchum, costing her much of her language and the beginnings of her story.

It’s been a long journey for Anishinaabe artist Brian Waboose. Experiencing abuse within the residential school system and feeling lost, art helped Waboose find a path in life. After his son tragically passed away, art helped him again.

⁠https://brianwaboose.com/

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U Multicultural is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage.

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