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Andy Wilson Letter to Survivors of Indian Residential Schools

Admin September 16, 2013

To all my family and friends who will take part in this week's events of Truth and Reconciliation, my prayers and thoughts are with you as you begin this journey into the acknowledgement of what you've been through as a residential school survivor.

To those who will get up and speak, it takes a lot of courage to talk about what you've gone through, and to have that many people bear witness to your testimony.

To those who never speak of those countless atrocities, I hope that you find strength in the number of people who will come out in force this week to support you on this journey.

I am not an Indian residential school survivor, but I am a by-product of the people who were. My parents went to residential school, as did my brothers. My mum would tell me stories for hours about what it was like for her to go through the residential schools, how awful it was for her, her family, and friends. My brothers never talked about it, so all I know is that when they came back they were changed.

To those friends who were taken away in the buses when we were young, my heart goes out to you. This certainly will be a difficult time, as the TRC meetings and witness statements will bring up some feelings that you've tried all these years to put behind you. I know that it is bringing up memories of you all being taken away.

I know you've never been able to find peace, so I hope this week will bring peace to you. You are loved not just by your family and friends, but by your community and your nation.

This week I will remember all of you, hold you in my heart, and prayers, remembering all the struggles you've tried to come to terms with, and tried to understand why.

Andy