Within the last few years of my life, I have learnt about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the residential schools through various means. The first time I became aware of what happened at the residential schools was during a highschool social studies class. I was very shocked and saddened after learning this but as the years went on, I slowly forgot about it. After hearing about it for the first time (four years ago), I do not believe I heard about it at all or to much length after that. That was until this last week. During the last week I continued to learn about the TRC through various forms; Teachers speaking during a lecture, other students, videos created by victims, online articles, social media websites, videos from various TRC events in Vancouver, and lastly, the Belkin Art Gallery ‘Witnesses’ exhibit. As I was taking in all of this information, I felt similar to the way I did when I first learnt about what happened. The exception to this was the ‘Witnesses’ exhibit. Although what I learnt through the exhibit was not anything I was not previously aware of, it affected me in a profoundly different way. I was truly touched by the exhibit and found it to be very powerful and emotional. I know that other people were also affected by it in a similar way. I began thinking about how the same idea, presented differently, can affect people in different ways. Some forms of expression may get the point across much better than others, and this particular form or forms are different for everyone. I believe that this is why there was such a large variety of events to choose from and different ways to learn during the reconciliation week in BC.

As I continued to learn about the TRC during the last week, I began to wonder if my highschool was doing anything to acknowledge or participate in the TRC. I was almost completely sure that they would have done something in recognition of the subject. But when I spoke to my sister (who currently attends the highschool) about the TRC, she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. This brought two things to attention for me. The first being how much awareness still needs to be brought to the issue of the residential schools and how important it is that this happens. The second being how special and wonderful it is that UBC participated. I think it was incredibly important for UBC to give students a day to participate in the events. I believe that students really took advantage of that day to explore the TRC, the history of the residential schools, and the affects the schools are still having on people today. I think that for a lot of students it was a really eye-opening experience and one that will not be easily forgotten.