Welol’timk Healing
Leah Morine Rosenmeier and Melody Martin Googoo worked with Gerald Gloade and a group of Mi’kmaw educators and Elders, including IRS survivors, to develop the curriuclum units.
The following curriculum is part of a larger curriculum project of the MDCC. It is a result of the work of an expert group of Mi’kmaw educators including survivors and descendants.
This IRS curriculum, designed for students in grades 7 to 9 , was presented for input and discussion at the 2013 L’nui’sultinej Conference. It was also reviewed by survivors during the 2013 community sessions held throughout Mi’kma’ki.
The entire curriculum can be found here. There will be more opportunity for survivors to submit their input and contributions for integration into curriculum development in the future MDCC IRS Legacy programs and projects.
Grade 7 to 9 – Forgiveness
This curriculum unit raises questions and discussion regarding the Indian Residential Schools in Canada. The story about Dante presented here is a core activity of the unit. The story focuses on the multi-generational effects of residential schools. It has been written to highlight forgiveness and its role in a healthy life. Please note that the story focuses on forgiveness among family members, rather than between First Nations and the Government and churches who ran the residential schools.
Melody Martin-Googoo has written a story called Mn’Ja’si Dante that anchors this curriculum unit. Drawing of Dante above courtesy of Gerald Gloade.
Mn’Ja’si Dante! —A lesson in forgiveness and healing
Thump! Thump! Thump!
At first the sound seemed to echo in his dream. Dante slowly pulled the covers up over his head. His body was heavy, tired and aching to fall back asleep. Sleep, didn’t he just fall asleep? Dante pulled the covers back down and glanced at the clock. The numbers were garbled and blurry. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms up over his head; he let them fall to the side with a thud. Dante managed to open one eye and then another. He looked around the room, it had been over a year since he moved in with his grandfather, but still the room felt strange. It wasn’t his. Dante’s eyes caught the sight of an old poster taped to the wall, New Kids on the Block. He thought of his mom, her warm smile and soft laugh. He missed her. He missed her a lot. Click to download or view the full story.
Elders Lillian Marshall, Murdena Marshall and Mary-Ellen Googoo work on the curriulum project with other educators and experts in the fall 2013.
Go to other IRS Program section:
• Exhibits and Programs
• Research and Archives
Join the Discussion, Send a Comment
Are you an IRS survivor? A descendant? We would like your input into the development of the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre IRS Legacy Program. What could the MDCC do to share and preserve the legacies and histories of the IRS survivors? What do you want your grandchildren to know about your life and your generation? Please let us know.
We would like to thank all participants of our MDCC IRS Legacy Project Community Gatherings, who shared stories and input. We look forward to hearing from you again.
There were many survivors and family members who indicated during our gatherings that they would like to submit their contributions of pictures, stories, art and their profiles to be included within the exhibit and collections. There are many who could not be at our community gatherings and we welcome and invite those who would like to contribute to the IRS Legacy program to contact us.
- Post a public comment, or just browse the discussion below
- Would you rather send the MDCC a private comment? Contact Tim Bernard, Director of History and Culture, at tim@cmmns.com
Mi’kmawey Debert Elder, Doug Knockwood releases book
AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde Joins First Nations Veterans to Mark Remembrance Day at National Ceremony in Ottawa
Preserving the Past!
Honouring Elder Douglas Knockwood
IRS Meetings Held Throughout Mi’kma’ki
sharing our stories
Leave a Reply