Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
A 77-year-old Indigenous woman shares an emotional insight into her past experiences with boarding schools on the big screen.
Elder Betty Ross watches her own story unfold in the documentary titled Return to the Waterfallwhich is being played in Alberta classrooms leading up to National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30.
Ross’ past is one of being abandoned, then adopted, then kidnapped and taken to St. John’s boarding school. Joseph was eight years old.
It wasn’t a story Ross always wanted to share with others, but when Eppo Eerkes’ daughter approached him 11 years ago with a graphic novel called Sugar Crashesfilmmaker Cochrane knew he had to find “Little Betty” from the book. The literature was about Ross’ journey in the residential school system.
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“Later that night, he read it many times and he gave it to me, and I fell apart,” Ross said.
“In my heart, I wanted to Sugar Crashes to fly,” Ross told Global News from the Lester B. Pearson School where the film was being shown to students.
So, when Ross got the unexpected phone call from Eerkes, she knew in her heart that she was ready for the opportunity to share her story.
“I said, ‘You know what? I was waiting for you. I was waiting for this call,” Ross said.
Ross’ story has since transitioned from that graphic novel to the Alberta-made docudrama Return to the Waterfallwhich is designed to help educate people about the dark legacy of residential schools. It will reach classrooms across Canada.
Eerkes says it’s important that people learn the truth about residential schools.
“It’s about listening. It comes before anything. He listens,” she said emotionally. “I know this story needs to be told.”
Ross agrees, saying that’s why she’s open to sharing her story with younger generations.
“Before you can even talk about reconciliation, you have to know the truth,” he said.
“Every day is a healing journey for me.”
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10779267/new-documentary-journey-alberta-residential-school-survivor/
