Hundreds of orange-shirted walkers carrying banners and symbols marched from the Brantford civic center to the former Mohawk Institute residential school grounds as a reminder that many people cannot celebrate Canada on July 1.
“Canada is celebrating a day for them and never took us into account,” said Michelle Miller, who attended the event with several dozen members of her Six Nations of the Grand River family.
“We’re here for all those relations that were in the residential school and because we’ve heard the stories.”
Miller said her father was briefly a student at the school.
Her parents raised 12 children and now have more than 50 grandchildren.
“None of them were taken and we’re thankful.” said Miller. “But we want to be here for the people who were taken away because they’re all our ancestors.”
The event featured a walk along Mohawk Street to the grounds of the former school, which was known as the “Mush Hole” for the food served to children. A ceremonial fire was burning for smudging, and vendors offered food, drink and crafts for sale.
The sea of orange shirts moved through the street with cries of “Every child matters” ringing out.
At the grounds, more than 500 people gathered to listen to survivors, such as Roberta (Robbie) Hill, speak of their time at the school.
“I have good memories of the Mush Hole but only because of the kids I made friends with,” said Hill. “All the bad memories happened in this building beside me.”
Hill, who was at the school from 1957 to 1961, said the Mohawk Institute left a legacy of pain that resonates through the extended families of former students.
“You can’t erase the memories of what happened to those children.”
Hill said a peaceful gathering is the best way to remember what happened to the students in the residential school system.
Organizer Trevor Martin, executive director of Brant Region Indigenous Support Centre, said he was pleased with the turnout for Friday’s event. The first walk, hosted last Canada Day, surprised organizers, he said.
“We planned for 60 to 100 people last year and ended up with 5,000.”
Trevor Martin said that was due to the timing: it was just after the 215 unmarked graves were identified at what was once the country’s largest Indigenous residential school in Kamloops, BC
“There was a major response. This year we are more prepared and there are more Every Child Matter walks and events around that people can go to.”
Trevor Martin said Canada’s implementation of residential schools caused so many problems.
“So, instead of celebrating Canada, we honor our survivors. Canada is the one that encourages assimilation and has worked hard to talk away our culture and language.”
@EXPSGamble