Similarities in Expereince ¶
By: Keira.Mathison on Oct. 30, 2024, 8:59 a.m.
ZITKALA-SA's writings provide a very intimate and detailed recollection of her perspective on her childhood. I was especially intrigued by her experiences in residential schools. ZITKALA-SA's experiences reminded me of a book I had read in elementary school. This book was part of a fictional series called Dear Canada. The books were written like journal entries from the perspectives of young girls who experienced historical events. One of these books, Titled Dear Canada: These Are My Words, was written from the perspective of Violet Pesheens when she was sent to a residential school in 1966 at 12 years old. While Violet is a fictional character, the author, Ruby Slipperjack, is not. Ruby Slipperjack was sent to Shingwauk Residential School in the 60s after the 5th grade and lived with a white family until she graduated. In an interview Ruby had with CBC, she said that “She really had to draw on her own experiences and memories of attending Shingwauk Residential School” when writing about Violet's experience.
A quote from ZITKALA-SA, which caught my attention, is “In the process of my education I had lost all consciousness of the nature world about me” (pg. 92), which refers to her losing her connection to her culture. This caught my attention because this sentiment was echoed in Violet's fear that she would forget her heritage while attending this school. The similarities between the authors' experiences of abuse and feelings of loss and isolation add to the realization that millions of other children had the same or similar experiences. Kind of makes you want to sit down and stare at a wall.
This Dear Canada book was published in 2016, a few years after Truth and Reconciliation began to be implemented into the education system. I first encountered this series in my school library in 6th grade - not yet aware of the darker aspects of residential schools. While the themes of this book may be considered too strong for elementary students, I think it is important that schools start to touch on the tragedies before the middle school level through engaging mediums like this book. I think introducing these topics earlier opens the door to empathy and understanding and allows for more serious discussions to be built up appropriately. When I hear about topics relating to residential schools, I often think about this book and its main characters' experiences. Though it is intended for a younger audience, I recommend checking it out as it provides a deep insight into more personal experiences at residential schools.