Today we read a book called Shin-Chi’s Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell and illustrated by Kim LaFave. This book reminded me of how powerful a story can be in teaching us about a dark subject. Though the words themselves are not particularly sad, the illustrations tell a completely different story. The pictures in this book show us how hard it is for Shin-Chi’s parents to say good-bye as they load him and his older sister onto a cattle truck bound for the residential schools. They also show us how grim and unloving these spaces were. The kind of place no child would ever want to be sent.
However, the story also shows us how resilient Shin-Chi and his sister are. They are two children working hard to remember their culture and family. This is one of my favourite aspects of the story. Its very easy to forget that individuals are present in history. Its not just about the group, each person had a unique experience. Though caught in an awful system of repression and hate, Shin-Chi is strong and able to hold on to what is most important in his life.
Residential schools are a sad part of Canada’s past, however it is a part that we should all learn about and speak about in schools. I felt that my elementary education in Ontario did not sufficiently teach me about the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This is something that must be changed. Storytelling is a wonderful way to tell children about something that many adults have trouble to talk about. With the right guiding questions it can lead to discussion that enable us to learn and empathize with individuals in history.
