Family stories, intergenerational cycles & orange shirts: An Onkwehón:we perspective on the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (by Wahéhshon Shiann Whitebean)

Our guest blogger this week, Wahéhshon (she/her) “She Walks About,” is a traditional Wolf Clan member of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation at Kahnawà:ke and mother of three. She is a Vanier Scholar and Tomlinson Fellow, currently a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Educational Studies at McGill University’s Department of Integrated Studies in Education. Wahéhshon works on language and culture revitalization initiatives at the Kahnawà:ke Education Center. Her doctoral research examines Indian Day School experiences, centralizing Kanien’kehá:ka life stories about navigating historic, contemporary, and multigenerational colonial traumas while demonstrating identity reclamation and cultural land-based education as pathways to resilience and well-being.

What does Orange Shirt Day or the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation mean to me as an Onkwehón:we? I was asked this question in a recent interview with Global News Montreal, which aired on September 30, 2021. The interview was about my research on Indian Day Schools and my experience as an Onkwehón:we researcher doing this work in my home community, Kahnawà:ke. It was my first news interview with anchor and a great learning experience, but it was too short for me to say everything I need to say about Orange Shirt Day and the legacy behind it. I’m writing this post to share more of my thoughts and experiences about this important day.

Wahéhshon
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