Meskeyi Student Society

On this National Indigenous People’s day we want to celebrate everyone in the UNB Indigenous community and Indigenous peoples across Fredericton and all over the country.

The love, community, wisdom, brilliance, and kindness built into every Indigenous space is worth far more than just one day, and with each day that passes we see the fruits of how integral Indigenous perspectives and experiences are to the future of Turtle Island, the earth, and our families.

We hope that this day grants us all the chance to celebrate Indigenous peoples en masse with beauty, respect, & honour, and we look forward to finding new and exciting ways to celebrate Indigenous identity all year round on campus in collaboration with the ForEM department, UNB, and the Indigenous Student Council as well as our partners, alumni, and community members.

We may not be able to see each of you today, but we are sending thoughts of song, dance, and joy your way. Thank you to each and every one of you involved in making this day bright and filled with pride, and thank you to each child, parent, and Elder teaching us all how to live well in even the little things that you do.

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My heart is breaking 💔

They've found another 104 bodies at the Brandon Manitoba Residents school. These 215 innocent indigenous children who were stolen from their families have now become 319 and counting.

Creator please take these innocent souls by the hand.
Journey well sweet innocent young little ones.
Songs will be sung for you.
Mother Earth's heartbeat will be drummed for you
Sacred White Sage will be burnt for you.
The Ancestors welcome you with open arms and a warm fire.

We won't stop looking until we've found the rest of you!

Update: They've found another 35 in Saskatchewan

https://www.facebook.com/groups/337917533288581/permalink/1178540882559571/?sfnsn=mo

Couple uses chalk art to talk to their daughter about discovery at Kamloops residential school A couple in Peterborough, Ont., created a chalk mural with their daughter to talk about the discovery of remains at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., and to honour the children.

Awesome stuff happening today!

Wolastoq Treaty Day 2021 — Program
Please like and share! Woliwon

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‘There’s no doubt there are other bodies’: GoFundMe launched to scan other residential school sites The discovery at the Kamloops school was made by using ground-penetrating radar, which can determine the depth, shape and size of something buried underground.

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For non-Indigenous people…

Settlers, it is important to acknowledge the benefits of living the lives you do, due to the Indian Residential School system and settler colonialism. Settlers too have been greatly impacted by this system, and continue to receive benefits from it today.

Indigenous people sharing these stories and experiences is not to make you feel guilty, but to bring awareness to the truths of Indigenous experiences in Canada. Acknowledging and confronting these truths is not a comfortable process, but it is necessary. As settlers, there is a responsibility to do the work to learn, and advocate for and reconcile with Indigenous Peoples.

There is power in learning and education, and it is a great place to begin the reconciliation process in your life.

We have compiled a list of free and informative resources on residential schools that may provide insight and value to you during this time.

Along with these resources, you should also learn about who’s land you live on, contact your local elected officials and ask them what they are doing to make positive change, and do the work to have conversations with and educate settlers in your lives about why this is important.

Reconciliation benefits all of us, and is a start to making our world a better, safer place for everyone. This work does not end here, it is ongoing, but there is no better time to start then today.

Resources For non-Indigenous People:
http://www.trc.ca/resources.html #:~:text=A%20Indian%20Residential%20Schools%20Crisis,or%20her%20residential%20school%20experience.

Assembly of First Nations – Its Our Time - Residential Schools Toolkit
https://education.afn.ca/afntoolkit/learning-module/residential-schools/

Aboriginal Healing Foundation – Residential School Resources Directory
http://www.ahf.ca/publications/residential-school-resources

Indigenous Canada - Free University Course | University of Alberta
https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

An Overview of the Indian Residential School System booklet
http://www.anishinabek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/An-Overview-of-the-IRS-System-Booklet.pdf

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It is important to recognize, acknowledge, and understand the history and pain that was brought upon Indigenous People.
Regarding the Kamloops Indian Residential School and the Indigenous children that never returned home, we honor all 215 spirits.
- Meskeyi Working Group