A survivor of the St. Anne’s Residential School in Fort Albany spoke Thursday at the Northern College Timmins campus of his experience and expectations.
It was part of the dedication ceremony for a plaque honouring survivors and victims of the system that will be incorporated in statues at all of the campuses.
Mike Metatawabin is a member of the Northern College board of governors. He was sent to St. Anne’s at age five. He praises the college for its first step towards reconciliation. In his speech, he dealt with the question “What is your expectation?” from Northern.
“I just want your children, your grandchildren to learn to know, to understand,” he stated. “That’s our expectation.”
Metatawabin added that it’s especially important for frontline workers trained by the to learn and understand.
“That’s the challenge we have today as front line workers in policing, nursing and mental health,” he told the gathering. “Front line workers need to know, need to understand the history of Canada.”
Bob McIntyre, MyCochraneNow.com staff)