June 9, 2023 | Author: Justin Yu | Editor: Ruonan Zhao | Photographer: Daniel Yu
“I am a survivor of St. George’s Indian Residential School, in Lytton, BC and Sixties Scoop. These systems tried to take away my identity and power as a special, unique person in the sacred circle of life, which we all are. I spent most of my life fighting to maintain my sense of self and to recover from the traumas these bureaucratic systems inflicted on me. Now I consider myself, not just a survivor but also a victor of all that has tried to destroy me.” - Mechelle Moon Pierres.
Mechelle Moon Pierres is Nl’akapa’mx, from the Nicola Valley - of the Interior Salish people. She was born in Merritt, BC. Mechelle is a residential school survivor, and her story highlights her unique struggle and perseverance against a system of oppression.
Residential schools were a system of educational institutions in Canada that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. According to the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were forcibly enrolled in these schools. Shockingly, the mortality rate among students was disproportionately high, with at least 4,100 documented deaths within the school system. These schools inflicted immense cultural erasure and intergenerational trauma on Indigenous communities, leading to lasting impacts. Mechelle was one of the countless victims of residential schools.
When asked why she continues to fight, Mechelle explains, “I became involved when I realized the bureaucratic systems had taken away all our decision making powers on living our lives as we choose.” Although residential schools have legally ceased to exist, its effects have been long lasting.
There are a multitude of lasting effects from government oppression, including:
1. Intergenerational Trauma: The trauma experienced by individuals who attended residential schools has been passed down through generations, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide. Indigenous youth in Canada are five to six times more likely to die by suicide compared to non-Indigenous youth.
2. Education and Employment: Indigenous communities face disparities in education and employment opportunities. As of 2016, only 46% of Indigenous adults aged 25 to 64 had post-secondary education, compared to 62% for non-Indigenous adults
3. Health Disparities: Indigenous communities experience significant health disparities compared to the general population. According to the First Nations Regional Health Survey, Indigenous adults in Canada are more likely to report fair or poor health compared to non-Indigenous adults.
4. Cultural Loss: Residential schools aimed to eradicate Indigenous culture and language, resulting in a loss of cultural identity and traditional knowledge. Today, revitalizing and preserving Indigenous languages and cultural practices remains a critical challenge.
These statistics provide a glimpse into the ongoing effects of residential schools, highlighting the need for continued efforts towards reconciliation, healing, and addressing the systemic disparities faced by Indigenous communities in Canada.
“I receive my direction through our ancestors and through our creator and do my best to keep my mind and heart open so I will know how to proceed. I believe their spirits move through us and we do what they have put in”- Mechelle Moon Pierres
For more information, check out the full interview down below.
References:
- Government of Canada. (2019). Indigenous suicide rates in Canada. [https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1577414213610/1577414240716](https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1577414213610/1577414240716)
- Statistics Canada. (2017). Aboriginal peoples in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census. [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/171025/dq171025a-eng.htm](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/171025/dq171025a-eng.htm)
- Government of Canada. (2020). Indigenous labour market information. [https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1581974224012/1581974261744](https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1581974224012/1581974261744)
- First Nations Information Governance Centre. (2019). First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) 2018-19. [https://fnigc.ca/data/2/0/2-0-2018-19-rhs-final-report-en.pdf](https://fnigc.ca/data/2/0/2-0-2018-19-rhs-final-report-en.pdf)
- Statistics Canada. (2018). Leading causes of death, total population, by age group and sex, Canada. [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310039401](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310039401)