Cecelia Reekie on March 10, 2016, decided to tell us a story. She brought us along on her journey from her birth in Butedale, BC and the story is about being born in 1963 to a mother who was 15 and was unwed and pregnant. She talks about her journey into foster care.
I have had the chance to spend time in Butedale when I was 17 and canoeing along the west coast from Bella Coola to Prince Rupert. It was a powerful and amazing experience back in 1994.
Through Cecelia’s story of adoption and the “aunty and uncle” that were friends with her adoptive parents, Cecelia talks about meeting her mother and her father. Her father turned out to be her “aunt” growing up, it turned out to be “aunties” older brother. The purpose of this story is about family, connection and about listening to the children’s stories.
Her father was in a residential school. He spoke and testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in Vancouver in 2013 where Cecelia was volunteering. Cecelia talks about going to Ottawa for 2015 and the release of the TRC report and the 94 Calls to Action.
She asks us to understand that every child has a story and to take the time to find out their stories so that no child has to walk alone. That we will be there to walk along with them.
This a very emotional talk. I was truly touched by her story and the several important messages she shared: We all need connections; everybody need to understand the truth and the history of residential schools; and every child has a story and the teachers need to know their stories so they don’t walk alone. Thank you Jennifer for sharing this production.