From the communities that shape us to the families that guide us, our sense of identity is formed from our immediate surroundings. For Indigenous youth, these formative pillars have faced cultural erosion. The loss of language, oral history and traditional roles, particularly those of Clan Mothers, has left many disconnected from their identity.
For decades the land has stood silent. Homes abandoned, landmarks forgotten and a bustling community now desolate. The Crooked Lake Métis Settlement near Marieval, Saskatchewan was once a vibrant place. But generations of hardships, including loss of land, systemic trauma, displacement inflicted by day schools, and reduced access to necessary resources has forced people to leave behind their ancestral community.
Forced into silence for generations, Indigenous Peoples were denied the right to speak traditional languages, pass down oral history and celebrate cultural practices. This systemic oppression failed in its purpose and the spirits of Indigenous Peoples remained resilient, despite the overwhelming odds against them. To this day, these warrior spirits have risen to reclaim their Indigeneity, rebuild connections to community and culture and to revitalize traditional practices.
Language, storytelling, traditional foods and shared culture connect Indigenous Peoples to their ancestors. Passed down from generation to generation, Indigenous traditions have persevered despite the systemic challenges their peoples have faced. For many, the path to healing begins by creating spaces where trauma can be acknowledged, resilience can be celebrated and knowledge can be shared.
Healing isn’t a direct path. It requires twists and turns, bends and breaks, support catered to individual needs, patience and empathy. For Indigenous Peoples with intergenerational trauma due to ongoing systemic factors, access to diverse support routed in cultural, trauma-informed care is essential.
The Métis people are a unique Indigenous group formed from a blend of cultures, traditions and heritages. Their spoken language, Michif, is as equally distinct as its peoples. However, like many hundreds of other Indigenous languages, it is at risk of being lost – taking with it a vital connection to identity, history and culture. That is why Michif is being added to the national push for revitalization within communities, with younger generations acting as key pillars in its preservation.
Once again, the educational documentary “The Cost of Silence – #USTOO” is returning to make an even greater impact. This documentary features two editions and amplifies the voices of childhood sexual abuse survivors, particularly male survivors, who have suffered from inaction, silence and isolation for too long.
Hollywood has seen an increase in voices calling for more recognition of films featuring or directed by minority groups. While some have been amplified, those by Indigenous Peoples have been left behind. Despite sharing rich stories rooted in culture, history and entrancing traditions, less than 3% of Indigenous-created films reach global distribution.
Those first steps towards reconciliation begin with compassion and a willingness to understand the Indigenous experience. For non-Indigenous peoples it can be difficult to find spaces with opportunities to self-educate, listen, learn and reflect on the roles one can play in reconciliation. Bringing these two groups together to honour Indigenous culture and provide spaces where people of all backgrounds can witness Indigenous traditions flourish, is critical.
Every child deserves an engaging, stimulating and supportive learning environment. In fact, studies show that students not reading at grade level by Grade 3 are four times more likely not to graduate high school. Indigenous children are much more at risk of falling into this statistic than any other demographic due to a myriad of factors, including the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, discrimination within classrooms, limited or no access to school and more.
