By Sophia Smoke, Angelica Cooper, CBC Kids News.
Note: Joshua in Division 1 at Queensbury Elementary provided a question, you can hear him at the 10:45 minute mark.
Before Mi'kmaw Elder Dorene Bernard sat down to share her story about residential school with us, she had asked for one thing.
She wanted to smudge with sage before and after the interview.
Smudging is the practice of clearing the air, mind, body and spirit of negative emotions with the smoke of sacred medicines, like the sage plant.
Many Indigenous people in Canada smudge and have different beliefs about the practice.
For Bernard, smudging was a chance to ground herself and clear her mind before a difficult conversation.
CBC Kids News contributor Sophia Smoke and the CBC crew smudged together, then began the interview.
Bernard is from Sipekne'katik First Nation in Nova Scotia.
When she was four years old, she was sent to the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School.
In total, Bernard spent four years at the school, between 1961 and 1967, which is the year the school closed.
In the lead-up to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, Bernard agreed to share her story with Sophia.
She also agreed to answer questions from kids from across the country.
CBC Kids News received about 200 questions!
You’ll hear questions from:
- Trudy Piercey’s class in Whitebourne, Newfoundland.
- Jennifer Perry’s class in Centreville, Newfoundland.
- Trudy Willis’s class in Bowmanville, Ontario.
- Rebecca Warren’s class in Etobicoke, Ontario.
- Helen Chambers’s class in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Click play to hear Bernard’s story:
Content warning: This video deals with the story of a child being physically and emotionally harmed. Consider watching it with a trusted adult.
To see how Sophia prepared to have this conversation, watch the video below.
Do you need support?
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected.
The 24-hour national crisis line is: 1-866-925-4419.
Kids can also call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
