That's without a doubt. My parents both went to residential school, but they weren't taken; they were sent by their parents. My mother was sent to learn how to look after a household. My dad was sent because his mother died and there was no one else to look after him. They would not tell me about any of the abuse they faced.
I've done this job now for 18 years, and there's a wide spectrum of things that happen to first nations. It wasn't just residential school. There was the idea that first nations couldn't even get legal representation. There was this racist attitude at the time that we were no better than animals in the field. There's a lot to make up for.
In today's context, you can't ignore the fact that a lot of our people are still living on the streets. I don't think reconciliation benefits the person who went to prison at the age of 16 in Oakalla. I don't think he's willing to have a conversation about any type of bill that doesn't speak to how he's living or wants to live.
I put out a pamphlet when I first heard about the idea of reconciliation being used for political purposes. I tried to educate everybody, including my own people, about everything that happened and the general nature—not only my band but bands all across Canada. I tried to tell them why we have to do better for today's generation and the next generation.
Yes, it's definitely important to talk about residential schools in truth and reconciliation. However, in my mind, if it doesn't translate into actually making futures better for aboriginals and in turn making a country stronger, I don't see the point.