What are some insights or things that stood out to you from John Henderson’s talk today? Were there any connections you made to Rita Joe’s poem “I Lost My Talk”? Are there any other thoughts you now have in relation to Truth and Reconciliation or Orange Shirt Day?
My heart broke listening to his experience in residential school. You could see the pain in his eyes as he was breaking eye contact and getting emotional. Well, I mean who wouldn’t? After all, all sorts of abuse were taken place on the students, like physical, mental, sexual, etc. He mentioned the fact that the indigenous were allowed to be taken away from families and be “purified” by white peoples. I see that as dehumanization and not viewing people as people rather ranking them by color or culture.
I now see the importance of Reconciliation Day in a better point of view. I believe the poem ” I Lost My Talk” represents his story really well. The poem talks about how the teachers or white peoples took the right of speaking away from the students. And washing them with English instead. Mr. Henderson told us that he learnt some English himself at the corner near the Japanese class. Also, that he forgot his native language. But overall, the poem really sums up all residential schools.