TRU faculty member Elder Joanne Brown speaks of her experiences as an indigenous woman and how the community can get involved.
Samantha Jo Haire – JOUR 3160 – Posted Oct. 22 | Last edited Oct. 22, 21:22 p.m. PDT
Elder Joanne Brown giving her talk on October 10th, 2024. Photo taken by Journalist Samantha Jo Haire.
May 27, 2021 marks the devastating day when Chief Rosanne Casimir announced the discovery of 215 unmarked burial sites of Indigenous youth in Kamloops. Falling every year on September 30th, community members are encouraged to wear orange to stand in solidarity to those who have lost their lives in the Indian Residential School System.
“This day is important. It is a day that engages all Canadians and the Indigenous will not be overlooked.” Says Elder Joanne Brown at a post-event interview conducted on Thursday, October 10th.
The 94 Calls to Action are requests created by the indigenous peoples to make that first step into reconciliation and ensuring that the Indian Residential Schools will never happen again. These calls focus on creating a safe and inclusive space for Indigenous youth and members while holding space for them to practice their culture. Community members must remain aware of the diversity not only within the country, but within Indigenous nations and recognize that they have a right to practice their traditions. These calls focus on work, youth rights, parental rights, and education.
“Look at these 94 calls to action. Speak about them and learn from them” says Elder Brown.
1493 was the year that people discovered lands outside of Europe. When traveling to Turtle Island, known now as North America, the Christian Church had decided to implement a “papal bull” to show that the church now owns this land. Papal bulls are letters written by the pope when the European empires were colonizing different areas of the world. Any land that was not deemed as Christian or under the Christian rule was free for the taking. As more Europeans came to Turtle Island, they brought different diseases and infections, leading to 95% of the Indigenous population being wiped out.
The lived experience of each Native individual will vary, but it is important to recognize the long history of battles, infections, and “schooling” that lead to a decrease in their population. At TRU, every course and degree is supposed to have incorporated Indigenous teachings or history in their material. Whether it be understanding the chemistry behind the use of a clay oven, or an entire chapter based on traditions, TRU must keep the traditions alive and aim for reconciliation.
“Every faculty has a mandate to put truth and reconciliation into their plans. If students notice it is missing, they must speak up” says Elder Brown.
Orange shirt day – September 30th – is a day of mourning and commemorating those who have experienced residential schools and spread awareness for truth and reconciliation. Before her first day at residential school, Phyllis Webstad had been given an orange shirt by her grandma. With the school’s intention of stripping the kids of their culture and identity, Webstad had her orange shirt taken from her. Each year on September 30th, Canadians wear orange for those who could not dress how they pleased and represent their culture. Orange Shirt Day is not a celebration or a holiday, it is a day to stand with the Indigenous folks and unite with them. This day is to push community members to learn and understand the lived experiences of the natives and strive towards reconciliation.
On September 30th, 2024, Thompson Rivers University hosted an Orange Shirt Day event consisting of traditional singing, ribbon-skirt dance, language sharing, and much more. At the end, students, staff and community members gathered for a friendship circle: a circle created for song, dance, and connecting with those around them. This event had many shared practices and provided community members with a space to learn, unlearn and educate.
Elder Joanne Brown hosted a seminar on October 10th to discuss Truth and Reconciliation. Students, staff and community members gathered in the Brown House of Learning room 190 to hear her impactful speech. This room is sacred as it represents the traditional housing of the Secwepémc peoples and is structured in the same manner. Her seminar touched on her lived experiences of rekindling with family, seeing her family go through the residential school system, and the horrors she had seen throughout her lifetime.
Elder Joanne Brown and her daughter presenting a photo of Elder Brown and her family member on October 10th, 2024. Photo taken by journalist Samantha Jo Haire.
“A lived experience I wish to share is what happened to my siblings and the residential school.” said Elder Brown in the post seminar interview.
Elder Brown had spoken about the loss of her siblings through the residential school. From mental health problems to substance abuse, her family had endured great pain that was implicated by the residential school staff. She had lost many of her cousins, aunts, uncles, even her own siblings to the trauma from this school. Her story resonated with many who attended her seminar and discussions arose regarding other Indigenous peoples experiences.
It is important for community members to engage with Indigenous activities and learn about their culture. The first step to Reconciliation is acknowledging the wrong doings and understanding the pain. It is important to speak up when situations are wrong and be involved with the community. Truth and Reconciliation is important everyday, not solely on September 30th.
You don’t need to say when you interviewed them. Maybe, to connect with the event, you can say it was after it.
For example: “This day is important. It is a day that engages all Canadians and the Indigenous will not be overlooked,” Said Elder Joanne Brown after the event.
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