Reflecting on my First Trip to Spanish Residential Schools
Scrolling through the dates on my iPhone, I counted down the days until my trip to Spanish, Ontario. I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the final week of November, as I looked forward to the adventures that laid before me.
Though this would be my first trip to Spanish, it would be my second residential school visit this year – the first being a visit on May 18 to 6 Nations in Brantford, Ontario, where the Mohawk Institute is located.
As Ben and I drove up together from Toronto, we encountered Mother Nature. Being the artist that she was, she greeted us by spattering countless white flakes on the canvas of nature. Snow fell everywhere in every direction, blanketing Ben’s windows and windshield in white, which at times obscured his ability to see the road ahead.
But, notwithstanding, nothing could shake my eagerness to visit with members of the Nisoonag Partnership, or participate in the in-person training. Not the blowing cold and wind, or even the six-hour drive.
As the hours passed, I reflected on my own personal journey towards truth and reconciliation. Since my first visit to the Mohawk Institute, I’ve been privileged to attend a pow-wow, participate in a book club discussion on The Valley of the Bird Tail, visit the Jesuit Archives in Quebec, and engage in meaningful conversations with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples on the legacy of the residential school system along the way.
We had a full couple of days. We received training on how to conduct archival research, engage in trauma-informed research and interview survivors. Through it all, the question that lingered in my mind was how we best support the Nisoonag Partnership in building an online database. As my mind wandered, I made sure to take time for self-care. I enjoyed every moment of my time in Spanish. The food was delicious, the discussions were meaningful, and our time together was delightful. I learned tons of new things, and more deeply understand the tragic loss of life and the gift of Anishnaabe culture.
Before returning to Toronto on Wednesday, we explored the area around Serpent River First Nation. For the past few days, my heart, being an impressionable canvas, had been painted repeatedly with the many differently-coloured emotions that had graced it in various shapes and forms. While streaks of black and gray flooded my heart as I paid my respects on the grounds of both the Boys’ and Girls’ schools, I came away with big splotches of bright red, reflecting a deeper love for the children, and golden rays of sunshine through a sense of gratitude to the Creator for the gift of life and to the Nisoonag Partnership for the connections formed and opportunity to participate.
I look forward to all that 2025 will hold, as we continue to embark on this journey together towards truth and reconciliation.
- Kayona Karunakumar
