Since this was not a conversation, we could not include it on our 1000 Conversations website, but I feel like I need to share this perspective never the less:

My grandmother attended St. Paul de Metis Residential School. Her brothers were accused of setting the fire the burned the school down killing their sister. The school was closed and the grieving children were left to fend for themselves ( I believe that my grandmother went to work on a farm and was 12 years old) I don’t know what happened to her brothers but I know that they could not be sent to “reform”school for lack of such institutions west of Manitoba. The bishop acknowledged in an inquiry that they shamed the children and humiliated them to lose their native ways. None of this history will be heard in the Truth and Reconcilliation process because this Residential School is not included in those listed as being of “federal responsibility” even though an Order in Council set up St Paul de Metis.

Here at NDHR, we have partnered up with Legacy of Hope a formed a new project called 1000 CONVERSATIONS.

As it says in the “About Us” page from the 1000 Conversations website:
Over the next year, we will collect 1000 conversations about reconciliation, healing and residential schools.

Not only do we invite you to participate in a conversation, we encourage you to host one with your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues!

There is a registration form on the website that is VERY easy to fill, and once you have let us know about your conversation, we will send you a very special PARTICIPATION PACKAGE!

This includes:
* a commemorative pin for each participant in your conversation; and
* promotional materials from the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation, Legacy of Hope Foundation and Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

So visit our website and grab some friends and a coffee and start talking!