– Files from Pat Matthews, My Cariboo Now
The Orange Shirt Society has developed a Speaker Series featuring Indian residential school survivors.
These testimonials focus on the firsthand experiences and enduring repercussions of residential schools on individuals, families, and communities.
Executive Assistant and Program Manager for the Survivor Voices Speaker Series Elaine Kinequon said since 2013, Phyllis Webstad has recounted her story to numerous individuals, aiming to educate and heighten awareness regarding residential schools and inter-generational impacts on communities.
“Last year we had to turn away speaking requests as we only had a couple of speakers. I talked to Phyllis and we decided that we would develop a speaker series for Residential School Survivors that were ready to tell their stories. We now have six speakers from BC, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, and we will be expanding to different provinces as we continue to grow.”
Kinequon said there are people from organizations, companies, schools, and communities that want to hear stories from the residential school survivors; their experiences, how they overcame the “dark history” of their lives, and where they are today.
“By sharing their stories they can encourage communities to participate in reconciliation. Truth comes before and the truth is not yet fully told” Kinequon said. “The interest has been beyond my imagination. In August alone I have received approximately 40 requests for Residential School Survivors from companies, government, schools, it’s now posted on our Orange Shirt Society website and I see this program expanding.”
Kinequon said the speakers are mostly people that they know or met in meetings.
“We learned about their history, we talked to them about this speaker series and asked if they would be interested in telling their story. Most of them were open and wanted to share.”
With all the requests that they’re getting now, Kinequon can see it expanding across the country and is getting more and more requests everyday.
The interest in survivors has surged particularly in the lead-up to September 30th.
The Orange Shirt Society is dedicated to fulfilling its mandate of shedding light on the enduring effects of Residential Schools in Canada.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
