NFB's "We Were Children" film on Indian Residential Schools experience debuts on APTN
Statement by Murray Sinclair, Chair of Truth and Reconciliation Commission
On this night when APTN debuts the film We Were Children, we all need to acknowledge the NFB, and Lisa Meeches for such an excellent production, and Lina Hart and Glen Anaquod for sharing their powerful stories.
More than anything else, this film will make people believe what they have only heard second hand. It grabs you by the hair and makes you turn your head and look at this country's history and see that the pain and anger and despair that Aboriginal people live with everyday, has a reason, and the blame does not rest with the victims.
The theft of the spirit marks the loss of something important. Shed your tears for those who have suffered. Feel your anger at the injustice of what was done. Forgive those who have affected your lives in a sad way because of their trauma. But never forget that we have to do something about the damage this has caused. You and I.
You may not have the magic wand that will fix this, but you have a voice. Use it. You have a responsibility, accept it. You have children in your lives, think of them. Do not let them inherit all of this mess. Help them understand. Ensure they are better educated. Denounce the ignorance of today that stems from the racism of the past. Make things better.
