Afterthoughts on the Pope’s apology from a last-generation residential school survivor
The red clay brick is from my former residential school, a reminder of Canada's assimilation policy. Photo courtesy Kerry Benjoe
By Kerry Benjoe
I watched the livestream of the Pope's apology with a piece of broken brick by my side.
The red clay brick is from my former residential school.
I am sure people will wonder why I have it.
The reason is simple: it is a reminder of Canada's assimilation policy and how residential schools impacted generations of Indigenous people, including my family.
However, like this brick, I am still here.
I am a remnant of the past.
The last in my family to attend a residential school.