A monument at the site of two former residential schools in downtown La Ronge has been repaired and returned to where it was unveiled a year ago.
The monument was part of an emotional ceremony at last year’s Woodland Cree Gathering, which was held on the urban reserve land where the schools once stood.
“We had elders bless the monument and we had some of our elders that are still living came to the monument unveiling,” said Lac La Ronge Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.
However, the monument was damaged and needed repairs.
“So it’s really nice to have it back to where it is,” she said.
The monument was re-installed on Monday and displays two pictures. The first is of the school site, which stood and housed students from 1920 to 1947 before it burned down. The second is a picture of children before they were sent away from their families to school.
“A child taken. A parent left behind,” it reads. “As part of the healing movement, it is important to recognize the hurts of the past.”
A line at the bottoms states:
“The residential school experience shattered our family systems, disrupted a way of life as well as a near loss of our language and culture. Despite the attempts of assimilation, we as a people survived and are reclaiming who we are.”
Cook-Searson echoed that message of resilience, saying delicate traditions like moose hunting, skinning, and creating items from the bones and hide are still practiced on the First Nation.
“We still have our language, we still have our culture, we still have people that know the ways of the land, the ancient ways,” she said.
Health services is planning a residential school gathering on that site the week of Sept. 14.