Kai Y.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver Heritage Fair

Genocide?

My project is about the residential school system and whether the astrosities commited in the schools were an act of Genocide or Cultural Genocide.

 

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

We point our fingers at other country's mistakes and errors without looking at our own country's faults in history. Many Canadian's thinks that Canada is as relatively peaceful country, but we have made our mistakes like the rest of them. To heal the breach, everyone needs to learn what actually happened before we can start the reconciliation.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I learned that not only was there staff on student sexual/physical abuse happening behind the walls of the Indian Residential schools; but that there was also many cases of student on student abuse.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

I haven't been denied the right of having a loving family, a safe environment, and the power of free speech. The students were in constant fear of abuse, neglect, starvation, and more. In short, my life is like a wonderland of freedom and love compared to their own tragic stories.