David A. Robertson Profile picture
Sep 30, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read Read on X
On a day to honour survivors of the residential school system, children who did not survive, and families who have been effected across generations, I think it’s also a time for reflection on not just the past, but today, and what kind of country we want to live in tomorrow. /1
What we have been reminded of, and what many Indigenous people are intimately aware of, by Joyce Echaquan, is that the systems of the past that were in place to destroy a people, like residential schools, are still operating today in this country we call Canada. /2
The justice system, the health system, the education system, the foster care system, and more, are all dangerous places for Indigenous people. They have been historically, they still are, and they will be until we demand and work together for change. /3
I’ve lost relatives to the residential school system, I’ve lost relatives to the health care system, left for hours alone in an emergency waiting room, I’ve seen racism in education, and I am, by far, not alone. This is a shared experience that will take years to heal from. /4
So I hope we can take time to day to reflect on what we have done, what we are doing, and what we can do, collectively, to overcome systemic racism, and the profound impact it has on Indigenous people, families, and communities. #OrangeShirtDay /5 (end)

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with David A. Robertson

David A. Robertson Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @DaveAlexRoberts

Apr 15, 2022
The Durham District School Board has pulled The Great Bear from its libraries, and I’m shocked.

We need to be putting more books by Indigenous authors on the shelves, not taking them out.

This is an insult to teachers, librarians, and children. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
It’s equally insulting that they don’t have the integrity to admit that they’ve received multiple emails from my publisher asking for an explanation. They have lied about it, when is there is evidence to the contrary. This is a huge step back, and we can’t accept it.
An email to principals by Erin Elmhurst, the superintendent of Indigenous and global studies; Georgette Davis, the superintendent of system innovation; & Jim Markovski, the associate director of equitable education — instructs schools to refrain from using them.
Read 8 tweets
May 31, 2021
Stories have played, & will continue to play, a role in educating Canadians, young & old, about the terrible legacy of Residential Schools. There's no excuse not to know the history or its impact. Here is a thread of books, thanks to all who listed them over the last week (1/?)
Indian Horse- Richard Wagamese

Orange Shirt Day - Phyllis Webstad

Shi-shi-etko and Shin-chi’s Canoe - @NicolaCampbel20

Seven Fallen Feathers - @TanyaTalaga

Dear Canada, These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens - Ruby Slipperjack

2/?
@NicolaCampbel20 @TanyaTalaga In Search of April Raintree - Beatrice Mosionier

The Train - Jodie Callaghan

My Name is Seepeetza - Shirley Sterling

Fatty Legs - @CJordanFenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

I Am Not A Number - @JennyKayDupuis

When We Were Alone - David A. Robertson & Julie Flett

3/?
Read 11 tweets
Aug 31, 2020
Before Macdonald started the residential school system in 1883, he was starving Indigenous people to get them out of the way for his previous railroad (which he took bribes for). He put them on reserves to grow their own food, without the land or the tools to do so adequately. /1
So this policy of starvation not only removed Indigenous people to make room for the railroad, it killed off Indigenous people. The government wanted to “reduce the expense” of having Indigenous people by rationing food to the point of death. /2
In just five years in the late 19th century the Plains First Nations population dropped from 32,000 to 20,000 thanks to this program of starvation. Almost half. Mission accomplished, if you would have asked JAM, I suppose. /3
Read 7 tweets
Aug 29, 2020
Many Indigenous children would’ve been connected to their cultures, speaking their languages, healthy, thriving, living lives they should’ve been allowed to live. Yet because of the architect of residential schools thousands died & countless more were impacted across generations.
“I have reason to believe that the agents as a whole … are doing all they can, by refusing food until the Indians are on the verge of starvation, to reduce the expense.” - John A. Macdonald

You want to keep honouring this man? I can keep quoting him, too.
“When the school is on the reserve, the child lives with his parents who are savages; he is surrounded by savages … He is simply a savage who can read and write.” - John A. Macdonald
Read 4 tweets
Jun 13, 2020
Indigenous people murdered by police in Canada since early April:

Eishia Hudson.

Jason Collins.

Stewart Kevin Andrews.

Everett Patrick.

Abraham Natanine.

RCMP shooting of man in Iqaluit village of Apex, Nunavut.

Regis Korchinski Paquet.

Chantel Moore.

Rodney Levi.
If you come on here blaming victims and defending law enforcement, and I block you, it doesn’t mean you’re right, it means I’ve no intention, or patience, to deal with your ignorance (or racism).
Remember them.

Eishia Hudson — a 16-year-old girl shot and killed by Winnipeg police

Jason Collins — a 36-year-old father of three, was shot early morning by officers in Winnipeg

Stewart Kevin Andrews — 22-year-old killed by Winnipeg police
Read 5 tweets
May 21, 2020
I just fixed my fence with zip ties. Are zip ties as useful as duct tape? Or am I just bored.
Zip ties for the win. Image
I also used zip ties to fix my basketball net.
Read 4 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(