How much do you really know about the history of the First Nations peoples of Canada and the affect it has had on their communities today?
I’d like to introduce you to UNeducation – a Residential School Graphic Novel: Volume 1. This is a no-holds-barred look at the experience of the First Nations people as they were torn from their families and culture as children, forced into residential schools and stripped of all their heritage in an attempt to “kill the Indian in the child.” It takes a brutal look at the abuse, the genocide of a nation, and the horrible aftermath of a struggling and pain-filled people.
Originally started as a grassroots fundraiser, this book is now offered in two different editions – a PG version for kids and an uncut edition. I was sent the uncut edition to review.
Presented in the format of a school style notebook – the pages inside aren’t an easy read. There are lots of different scrapbooked pages of newspaper articles, essays, personal reflections, and photos from people who lived through the experience and/or who are dealing with the ripples even still today. Following these are comics that show the experiences of children as they are taken from their people and put into school. Having that visual experience makes it seem much more personal than just hearing about it.
I really appreciated that the author included words from the Blackfoot language (with translations!) so that it was more real and showed the challenges in a more meaningful way. The uncut edition includes a comic series about the cycle of sexual abuse, and how it continued long after the days in a residential school were over.
My whole life, I’ve been fascinated by First Nations history and culture – and have been blessed to have been able to participate in some really amazing experiences such doing placements in a First Nations day care centre, joining smudge ceremonies, enjoying PowWows, and learning about many different tribes throughout North America on travels I took with my family.
Reading this book, however, really opened my eyes to a part of their history that I hadn’t really thought about before. Although I had heard of residential schools, I honestly (and blindly) believed that they were a historical issue – and, when reading the pages of this book, I was shocked to discover that the last federally funded residential school in Canada only closed in 1996! It’s left me feeling very discouraged that we, as Canadians, allowed the abuse and destruction of our First Nations people to continue for so long.
I also hadn’t really put much thought into how having an entire generation (or, worse, multiple generations) separated from their families and forced to forget their culture would destroy a people. It would, in essence, erase a language, cultural traditions, and religions. Add in years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse – a cycle that perpetuates itself – and you have a hollow shell of people who are disconnected from their people, not fully belonging anywhere, filled with despair, pain, and grief. It’s no wonder that many First Nations people turned to addictive substances and violence.
What encourages me though, is the fight of the First Nations people for a rebirth in their self-identity – of learning about and reclaiming their heritage. I stand beside my First Nations brothers and sisters on their journey of rediscovery and pride.
In 2015, Volume 2 is scheduled to be released. It continues in the harsh reality method – looking at how society today treats our Native people, and explores the stereotyping they face.
We’re more than just beads and feathers.
To find out more about or to order this book and other books by Jason EagleSpeaker, visit www.eaglespeaker.com
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I’d be interested to see what the kids’ version is like. This sounds really interesting and something I probably need to change my perspective on, too.
I’m not 100% sure what the difference would be, but I know they wanted to make it “safe” for kids and people who were sensitive.