What they said at the fourth TRC event in Saskatoon, June 21-24, 2012

“There is a story in every residential school survivor. There is a story in every residential school descendant. There is a story in every residential school brother and sister.  And those stories need to be heard.”
Chief Felix Thomas, Saskatoon Tribal Council

“The legacy we want to leave for our families is how we worked to understand the damage done to us. We are here to encourage other families to do the same.”
Aubrey Quewezance, Survivor

“The reason I’m sitting alone up here is that I’m the only one left in my family.”
Philip Ledoux, Survivor

“My parents both died without telling us kids, ‘I love you.’”
Ron Thompson, Survivor

“We suffered. Just like slaves.”
Julia Daigneault, Survivor

“As a child you remember all these things, you’re traumatized by all these things that go on in your life.”
Alvin Severight, Survivor

“There is healing in forgiveness, when you forgive.”
Neva Mirasty, Survivor

“The only time my dad talked about residential school was when he was drunk and he used to cry.”
Todd Dieter, Survivor

“I’m surrounded by beauty and live in chaos. Why is that? That’s no longer acceptable to me.”
Ina Feitz Ray, Intergenerational Survivor

“Helping (other people) deal with their addictions is helping me stay on the path I’m on. I know that the cycle I’m on, my family’s cycle will stop with me.”
Kelly Anderson, Intergenerational Survivor

“We were just scared little children, didn’t know what was happening.”
Emil Brandon, foster care child

“We are on a path leading to greater understanding…. We commit ourselves to walk with you, listening, learning and walking alongside.”
Rev Claire Ewert Fisher, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, Saskatchewan

“I never told my story in my whole entire life”
Colton Scragg, foster care child

“Your statements will ensure that tragedies like the residential school era will never happen again.”
Vice Chief Edward Lerat, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations

“There is a hole in the soul of our country. It’s a dark place too frequently denied. This hole can only be removed through the participation of those who live there and their families together with Canadians of good will who accept our collective responsibility. We owe it to all survivors and those who didn’t. We owe it to our children and we owe it to the Canada we wish to be.”
Andy Scott, former federal minister Aboriginal Affairs

“We are challenged by our faith to walk with Aboriginal people, to building relationships built on mutual respect.”
Rev. Dr. John Vissers,  moderator, Presbyterian Church of Canada

“While we must not ever forget the legacy of Indian residential schools, we have reason to hope and believe that the future holds great promise for the Aboriginal people of this country.”
John Duncan, federal minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs