Indigenous voices share residential school stories at Hamilton waterfront

Many people gathered at the City of Hamilton’s waterfront Wednesday to listen and learn about the horrors of Canada’s residential school system, where thousands of Indigenous children suffered abuse, and many never made it back home.

Melva Fenyves was 51-years-old when she learned more about her parents, and when she discovered her Indigenous roots.

“My mom and dad were residential school survivors,” said Fenyves.

Having been taken away from her parents at a young age, Fenyves now knows about the trauma and hurt her mother and father were burdened with, after suffering through residential school.

“I was told that my mom — you know, all the lows of why we were all taken away — it is because of the residential schools,” said Fenyves. “I feel for her, you know what I mean? Like, I really feel for her. I really wish she didn’t go through that. You know, if I could take that pain away from her, I would.”

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The National Truth and Reconciliation Day event at Hamilton’s waterfront on Wednesday was filled with drumming and dancing, and about sharing the history of residential schools, and about being proud of Indigenous culture.

It involved performances and sharing some of the very culture so many children were forced to leave behind.

“Giving them a chance to express themselves and tell their stories is healing and that’s very important,” said Stacey Laforme, the son of a residential school survivor.

Between 1857 and 1996, more than 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were sent to church-run residential schools, where abuse and malnutrition were rampant.

Thousands of children died.

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission initially documented the deaths of 3,200 children at residential schools in Canada, but experts who continue to comb through millions of records say the actual number could be much higher.

“Every Child Matters” — those words and the orange shirts are reminders of Canada’s dark history.

The people who attended the event say that the history of the residential school system in Canada must never be forgotten.

“People have to know it’s not Indigenous history, it’s not ‘these people’s’ history, it’s all our history, and when we talk about the children who were buried on the ground of the residential sites, we’re talking about all our children,” said Laforme.

As for Fenyves, discovering her Indigenous roots and even learning about her parent’s suffering has led her to understand herself.

“I now know who I am,” said Fenyves.

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