Module 1 – Post 2

“Joe Buffalo” | Surviving the Horror of Residential Schools by Skateboarding | The New Yorker

I thought this resource was very relevant for this week as we continue to reflect on Truth and Reconciliation Day. Please take the time to watch this short documentary.

This video is truly inspiring. Joe Buffalo shares his story of being removed as a child and being put into a residential school at the age of 11 years old. His siblings, parents, grandparents were all at one point in residential schools.

This short documentary shares the hardships he endured due to  intergenerational trauma and from being taken away from his family and put into a residential school.

I appreciate this documentary as it shows how Joe became successful through skateboarding. In his rise to fame no one knew that he had been to residential school. I feel like his story is a story that isn’t shared often but could be relatable to many students and adults who suffer with trauma. He also expresses how his skateboarding fame came to a halt as he hadn’t dealt with his trauma.

After not skateboarding for years, it was incredible to think how he was able to connect to the land and choose a better path to bring his passion of skateboarding back into his life. His journey has allowed him to be strong and reconnect to his culture. I can’t imagine the impact he has had on other Indigenous youth and skateboarders around the globe. His journey to success wasn’t easy but he is able to show how perseverance and resilience can change your life.

I highly recommend watching this 15 min short documentary to gain another perspective of the impacts of residential schools. Please note there are curses in the video in case you are planning to share this with a classroom.

I would love to hear other people’s reflections on this thought-provoking video.