National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada was on September 30th. One of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada is Action 93, stated as follows:

“We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools.”

— Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

Josette Jim speaks to the morning LINC learners. Many learners wear orange for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day.

The Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program delivers English classes to adult newcomers through funding from Canada’s federal government. Archway’s LINC program is responding to Action 93, by incorporating Indigenous history and teachings into English classes. Instructors teach history about Indigenous peoples and residentials schools, as well as aspects of Indigenous culture and teachings. There have been several great new resources developed alongside Indigenous knowledge keepers in the last 5-10 years that instructors have the opportunity to use in the English classroom. The program has also been very honoured to have Josette Jim, Elder Cultural Editor from the Xwewenaqw Xwexwilmexw (Whonnock People) and Statlemc First Nation, come in and share both her culture and her experiences in residential school with our learners. Josette very generously agreed to come and share twice with our learners, once on the morning of September 29th and once in the evening in October. She has, in past years, also come in the fall to share with learners. We are very, very grateful for her vulnerability and resilience in sharing of herself and her culture with the newcomers in our English classes.

Josette leads learners in a song while playing a hand drum.

Learners in the morning LINC program were able to meet Josette on September 29th, a day before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Josette came in her beautiful regalia and started the morning off with story, relating with the learners about her commute and then sharing about how the people of the Stó:lō (Fraser River) “commuted” by paddling. She had the learners do the paddling action as a way to connect with their bodies. It was a very grounding experience. She shared about her spiritual and cultural beliefs and about being present in her surroundings and invited us to join her in those moments, to sit and be in the present. She continued to share about her and her family’s experiences at residential schools and the continuing impacts of the residential school system on her family relationships to this day. Many of these stories were heartbreaking and clearly communicated why we need a day for truth and reconciliation. She didn’t end her presentation on a note of suffering though. She shared about her resilience, reflection, and her continued learning about self and culture that she has experienced as a residential school survivor. She showed us that her family is continuing to heal from those harrowing experiences and their lasting impacts. She shared songs of mourning and of hope and peace with us, inviting us to partake in those expressions. The learners connected with these songs, singing and dancing along, at Josette’s invitation.

Josette and her grandchildren share traditional songs with the evening LINC learners.

Students in the evening LINC classes at one of the South Fraser locations enjoyed the added fortune of meeting guest speaker Josette’s grandchildren, who came to sing some traditional songs with her. Students listened intently to Josette’s personal history at the residential school and how it affected her life as a child, adult, and parent. Josette brought the vocabulary and key aspects of Canada’s colonial history that they have been studying to life with her animated stories and songs. CLB 3-4 Class Instructor Karla notes that she is very proud of her CLB 4 student Yahia for volunteering to say the land acknowledgement. Josette noted later that she was very impressed and grateful as it helped her feel respected.

Many students in the CLB 3-4 Evening Class said they felt it was very special to meet Josette’s family and learn more about colonialism in Canada. With the help of a translator, Yahia reflected, "It was a meaningful experience that helped me understand the importance of truth and respect. I feel deep gratitude and hope that the coming days will bring healing and happiness. From them we have learned the true meaning of forgiveness and living together in peace."

We are truly grateful to Josette for having the courage to be vulnerable enough to share her own personal stories of struggle with us. It was a moving and memorable way to understand the significance of truth and reconciliation as the path forward, not just for one day a year.