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Stories From Those Affected by Residential Schools

Journeying with our Indigenous Community

On October 13, 2021, St. Andrew's was honoured to host Elders Earnie Poundmaker, Wallace Alexson, Perry Agicotay and Robert George. They came to share their very personal experiences with Residential Schools. Please use the following link to listen to their stories:

https://www.standrewscalgary.ca/podcasts/events-inspirations/2021-10-13-journeying-with-our-indigenous-community

Experiences at Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School

One of the Residential Schools for which the Presbyterian Church is responsible is the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in northwestern Ontario. These are the stories about two of the students who were taken to this school.

Gordon Beardy (1962)

When Gordon Beardy was 11 years old, he attempted to run away from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School with three friends. He wanted to return to his home, which was more than 500 kilometers away. Now the Chief of Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation, as well as the first Indigenous person in Canada to become an Anglican diocesan, or senior bishop, Chief Beardy told his story to CBC news. You can find his story here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cecilia-jeffrey-residential-school-survivor-1.6420333

Chanie Wenjack (1966)

On October 22, 1966, 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack died alone in the wilderness in an attempt to escape from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School and reunite with his family living over 400 miles away. 

Gord Downie, former lead singer of the Tragically Hip, used his celebrity status to tell Chanie Wenjack’s story, and bring the history of Residential Schools into the forefront of our Canadian conscious through his project, Secret Path. To quote from the project’s website, 

"Secret Path acknowledges a dark part of Canada's history — the long-suppressed mistreatment of Indigenous children and families by the residential school system — with the hope of starting our country on a road to reconciliation.”

CBC streamed the Secret Path film, as well as footage of Gord Downie in conversation with the Wenjack family. After the film, CBC Arts hosted a panel discussion. That entire programme is available here:   

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/secretpath/gord-downie-s-secret-path-airs-on-cbc-october-23-1.3802197

(CLICK HERE) To Continue on to "Truth and Reconciliation Report".