Chief Joseph shares his experience attending an Indian Residential School

Chief Joseph is an Indian Residential School survivor who spent 10 years at St. Michael's Indian Residential School at Alert Bay on the central coast of British Columbia. He spoke only Kwa Kwala as a six year old boy entering this Residential School. He was beaten often for speaking his own language and endured other hardship and abuse. He recognizes the destructive impact that this experience had on his life, family and community. This same experience has given him the inspiration to assist aboriginals in seeking hope, healing and reconciliation in his position as Executive Director for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

Chief Joseph has played an instrumental role in Canada's addressing the legacies of Indian Residential Schools, a church- and state- run system that forced First Nations, Inuit and other Aboriginal children into residential schools. The result of this process is the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) which includes provisions for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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• Chief Joseph
• Global Peace Festival
• Gwa wa enuk

[stephbieberfangirl]

chief robert joseph i i toally respect your culture and your lanauge they have like not right to do that you guys didnt do anything wrong

[Desvena]

Ummmm, I respect you Chief, but it was very much their goal and agenda to eliminate our race.