The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations released a book of short stories, poems and drawings by Indigenous students on Tuesday morning that honours residential school survivors.
Tyra Stonechild is a Grade 10 student from Onion Lake Cree Nation who received second place in the picture category.
She says she knew little about the dark history of residential schools before taking part in the project, but became well informed by talking to elders and others in her community.
“When I heard inside stories of how it was, it kind of shocked me,” she says. “Why would they do that? That’s the number one thing I learned and it is kind of sad to find that out.”
FSIN Vice-Chief Edward “Dutch” Lerat says the book is a way to ensure the legacy and impacts the residential school system had on many First Nations people is never forgotten.
The book is called Journey To Truth.