Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte with Lalita Malhotra. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Working towards reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: P.A. event honours painful legacy of residential schools

Sep 30, 2024 | 8:25 PM

Emile Highway, a decorated veteran and residential school survivor, can still remember the loneliness he felt as a young boy being in a strange place and the sole comfort that came with his older brother holding his hand.

Highway was among the guest speakers during a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Monday in Prince Albert organized by Prince Albert Grand Council. Highway, who was born in Southend, was taken from his home at the age of 7 and transported to the Guy Hill Residential School near the Manitoba border.

“I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know where home was,” he recalled.

Highway’s older brother Ovide had been at the school for a full year already and Highway recalled how his brother soon became his mother, father, grandmother and grandfather.

“It was a terrible burden to place on the shoulders of an eight year old boy,” Highway said.

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Emile Highway. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Highway remained at the school for seven years and recalled getting punished for speaking his Indigenous language. He also recalled a sort of reward point system for students who tattled on their classmates.

Highway then went on to explain the main message he got from the residential school was that he was not good enough and would someday be standing on a street corner, begging for change to buy his next drink.

“It psychologically damaged us to a degree that we’re still trying to find ways to recover,” he explained, noting he and many of the children he knew left the residential school with feelings of guilt, shame, anger and pain.

After finishing high school, Highway would spend 20 years in the military, including three tours overseas. Despite all his accomplishments, the damage done by the residential school never left him and he turned to alcohol to cope with his feelings of insecurity and unworthiness. This would in turn lead to troubles with the law and even time in jail.

Eventually when Highway did find his way home, he recalled feelings of alienation.

“I would try and get my language back and I would get headaches,” he recalled.

Moving forward, Highway believes reconciliation means making friends and having both sides sit down for coffee, airing their grievances and finding ways to be compassionate and loving.

“That is the only way we’re ever gonna get along together.”

Among the dignitaries in attendance was Prince Albert Police Chief Patrick Nogier who made a commitment to making police service better for the community.

“Which means that we’ll be engaging with PAGC; we”ll be engaging with the FSIN; we’ll be engaging with community leaders to ensure you can trust this organization,” he said.

Along with Nogier was Deputy Chief Farica Prince and four members of the Victims Services Unit. Nogier explained they were all there to learn more about Indigenous culture and would take those lessons back to the officers.

PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte attended the All Saints Residential School in Prince Albert and noting the attendance of Premier Scott Moe in the room, called on the provincial government to make Sept. 30 a provincial statutory holiday.

“I think it would be the right thing to do, you know you are honouring the residential school survivors but also the ones that did not make it home,” he said.

And further noting the inter-generational trauma caused by residential schools, Hardlotte said it’s an issue that affects all Canadians.

Scott Moe was approached after by paNOW and he confirmed conversations he’s had with Prince Albert Grand Council.

“It’s an ongoing conversation and discussion but there is some focus Saskatchewan has one of the most amount of statutory holidays,” he said.

Scott Moe. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Acknowledging the fact Manitoba has marked the day as a provincial stat, Moe said Manitoba has fewer statutory holidays than Saskatchewan including Remembrance Day.

And while noting there’s work to be done around reconciliation, Moe also stressed the importance of economic reconciliation and ensuring both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have equal opportunities.

“And we’re seeing that right here in Prince Albert with public investment in recreation centres and hospitals, but also private investment and Indigenous communities and people owning a portion of the recent OSB investment,” he said.

Monday’s event in Prince Albert also included a private ceremony for survivors as well as a star blanket presentation to Lalita Malhotra who was recognized for her work in health care.

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell