INVERMAY, Sask. — Métis history, resilience and the importance of reclaiming culture were brought to the forefront at Invermay School as students and staff talked about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“When we talk about Truth and Reconciliation, it is important that the stories and experiences of Métis people are included,” explained Amanda Keler-Jack of Sturgis Métis to Invermay School staff and students during a special presentation.
“For many years, Métis children and families were affected by residential schools, day schools, church-run schools and the child welfare system. Children were separated from their families and communities, and many were discouraged or prevented from speaking their language, practising their culture and maintaining connections to who they were.
“For a long time, some Métis Survivors felt that their experiences were overlooked or not fully recognized. Their stories remind us why the truth part of Truth and Reconciliation is so important. Before we can move forward together, we have to be willing to listen to the experiences of Survivors and families and acknowledge what happened.
“For Métis people, reconciliation is also about reclaiming what was nearly lost. It means bringing our culture, language, stories and traditions forward. It means teaching young people about the sash, beadwork, music, dance, harvesting, medicines, land-based knowledge and the stories of our ancestors. It means being proud to say, ‘We are Métis, and we are still here.’
“Reconciliation isn't something that happens on only one day of the year. It happens when we listen to one another, learn the truth about our shared history, treat each other with respect and make sure Indigenous voices and cultures are carried forward.
“On Sept. 30, we remember the children who were taken from their families, we honour the Survivors who came home, and we remember those who never did.
“And as Métis people, we honour the strength of our ancestors and Survivors by continuing to share our culture, our stories and our identity with the generations that come after us.”
“Every Child Matters,” she concluded.
