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For the first time, a bill to create a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian boarding schools has reached the floor of the U.S. Senate. A companion bill is working through the U.S. House. The concept of an official panel to look into the abuses of boarding schools has surfaced previously but failed to take hold. The action comes as the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is launching a database of documents, photographs, and other records to help survivors and others connect understand the full weight of the boarding school era. And an important event to promote healing from Canada’s residential school era is taking place in Ontario. Some voices in Canada are calling for residential school “denialism” be criminalized.
GUESTS
Fallon Carey (Cherokee Nation), interim digital archives manager for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Arlen Washines (Yakama), member of the Washington State Truth & Reconciliation Tribal Advisory Committee
Eleanore Sunchild (Thunderchild First Nation), Cree Indigenous lawyer practicing law in Calgary
Lisa Wesley (Attawapiskat First Nation), mental health and wellness manager for the Mushkegowuk Council and a volunteer with the Weengushk International Film Festival (Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience)
Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)
Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)
Thanks again for making me cry. [That’s a compliment.] Always good to hear from Chanupa (don’t know if that’s spelled correctly) from Pine Ridge speaking in his native language. He makes me smile—every single time—in the midst of wiping my eyes. Same goes for your guests.
This program is invaluable… I listen to it when I’m driving to certain Reservation – another version of “concentration camps’.