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On Wed. Sept. 27, 2023, along with Canada Post, Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario held the Truth and Reconciliation Stamp Launch. This was the second stamp in a series commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In 2022, artists of Inuit, Metis and First Nations captured their visions for the future of truth and reconciliation.
On Wed. Sept. 27, 2023, along with Canada Post, Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario held the Truth and Reconciliation Stamp Launch. This was the second stamp in a series commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In 2022, artists of Inuit, Metis and First Nations captured their visions for the future of truth and reconciliation.
2022 Truth & Reconciliation Stamps (2022 ©Canada Post Corporation, copied with permission)
Master of Ceremonies, Assistant Director, Christopher Ashewe, welcomed invited guests and explained how Woodland Culture Centre, opened in 1972, houses the oldest residential school in Canada in the Mohawk Institute Residential School which operated from 1831 to 1970.
Assistant Manager of the Language Department, George Dextor, presented remarks on the natural forces. Christopher prepared the audience of the short video of members of the Survival Circle, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Anyone who would become distressed could speak to councillors who would be available if needed.
Assistant Manager of the Language Department, George Dextor, presented remarks on the natural forces. Christopher prepared the audience of the short video of members of the Survival Circle, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Anyone who would become distressed could speak to councillors who would be available if needed.
The video depicts three survivors telling their experiences in Residential Schools how children were taken without their parents knowledge and consent. They were abused physically, emotionally and sexually and stripped of their heritage, way of life and their language.
There were a few Residential Survivors in the audience. John who escaped over 30 times and Dawn Hill who spoke briefly about what life was like attending residential school. She was separated from her sister and the children were encouraged to fight to create dissension and prevent friendships.
There were a few Residential Survivors in the audience. John who escaped over 30 times and Dawn Hill who spoke briefly about what life was like attending residential school. She was separated from her sister and the children were encouraged to fight to create dissension and prevent friendships.
 Residential School Survivor Dawn Hill |  Residential School Survivor John who escaped over 30 times |
Executive Director, Heather George cited that September 30th, Truth and Reconciliation is a poignant reminder of residential schools. Previously knowns as Orange Shirt Day after six-year-old Phylis Jack Webstad, had her orange shirt stripped from her on her first day at residential school.
As a Residential School Survivor, Phylis never had her shirt nor other belongs returned to her. “Residential school is the only school you don’t graduate from, you survive,” said Heather George. She further remarked that "truth and reconciliation is not easy. Truth requires dark history caused by pain." Heather mentioned how the name Canada came from the Iroquoian word ‘Kanata’ meaning village. “The work of Canada Post is part of the healing.”
Another guest speaker was Dr. Criag Fraser, Elected Council of Six Nations of the Grand River, who was a stand in for Chief Mark Hill. Dr. Fraser toured the residential school after 50 years. He mentioned he had family members who attended the school, the results of the abuse his uncles endured related to alcoholism.
“Reconciliation means different things to different people. ReconciliACTION, we need to do rather than say.” For example, Dr. Fraser explained how the University of Waterloo is taking initiative after realizing that only 44% of Indigenous population graduates and half take five years to complete a four-year program. As a result, the university is waiving the tuition fee for Indigenous students and University of Toronto may follow.
Director of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canad Post, Dale LeClair, reported “we have to reflect on the past.” His father spent three years in residential school before being pulled out by his mother. While touring the Mohawk Institute Residential School, he had such a heavy heart. “The school was designed to assimilate Indigenous children into society who were subjected to unimaginable things. The school closed in 1972, remembering the truth and learning from it.”
Canada Post is listening to the voices of Residential School Survivors and worked closely with the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to come up with the Truth and Reconciliation stamp issue this year. “The stamps tell an important part of history to heal and embrace a stronger future.”
As a Residential School Survivor, Phylis never had her shirt nor other belongs returned to her. “Residential school is the only school you don’t graduate from, you survive,” said Heather George. She further remarked that "truth and reconciliation is not easy. Truth requires dark history caused by pain." Heather mentioned how the name Canada came from the Iroquoian word ‘Kanata’ meaning village. “The work of Canada Post is part of the healing.”
Another guest speaker was Dr. Criag Fraser, Elected Council of Six Nations of the Grand River, who was a stand in for Chief Mark Hill. Dr. Fraser toured the residential school after 50 years. He mentioned he had family members who attended the school, the results of the abuse his uncles endured related to alcoholism.
“Reconciliation means different things to different people. ReconciliACTION, we need to do rather than say.” For example, Dr. Fraser explained how the University of Waterloo is taking initiative after realizing that only 44% of Indigenous population graduates and half take five years to complete a four-year program. As a result, the university is waiving the tuition fee for Indigenous students and University of Toronto may follow.
Director of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canad Post, Dale LeClair, reported “we have to reflect on the past.” His father spent three years in residential school before being pulled out by his mother. While touring the Mohawk Institute Residential School, he had such a heavy heart. “The school was designed to assimilate Indigenous children into society who were subjected to unimaginable things. The school closed in 1972, remembering the truth and learning from it.”
Canada Post is listening to the voices of Residential School Survivors and worked closely with the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to come up with the Truth and Reconciliation stamp issue this year. “The stamps tell an important part of history to heal and embrace a stronger future.”
Heather George and Dale LeClair reveal the 2023 Truth & Reconciliation Stamps
The 2023 Truth and Reconciliation Stamps depict eight stark archival images of Indian Residential Schools that existed throughout Canada:
- Kamloops Residential School, Kamloops, B.C.
- Île-à-la-Crosse Residential School, Île-à-la-Crosse, Sask.
- Sept-Îles Residential School, Sept-Îles, Que.
- Grollier Hall, Inuvik, N.W.T.
- Mohawk Institute, Brantford, Ont.
- Ermineskin Residential School, Maskwacis, Alta.
- Turquetil Hall, Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut
- Shubenacadie Residential School, Shubenacadie, N.S
Booklet of eight Permanent™ domestic rate stamps featuring the other four residential schools (2023 ©Canada Post Corporation, copied with permission)
Official First Day Cover & the four new stamps (Image by H. Rennalls)
A photograph of the Mohawk Institute Residential School is featured on the Official First Day Cover (OFDC), as it was the first school in Canada’s Indian Residential School System. Attached are the four stamps of the Truth and Reconciliation Stamp Launch.
According to Canada Post: "the stark archival images of these institutions serve as a reminder of the fear, loneliness, pain and shame endured by generations of Indigenous children experienced within their walls." Furthermore: "The stamp issue serves as a vehicle for truth about Canada's residential school system to help support the process of reconciliation and, ultimately, healing.”
According to Canada Post: "the stark archival images of these institutions serve as a reminder of the fear, loneliness, pain and shame endured by generations of Indigenous children experienced within their walls." Furthermore: "The stamp issue serves as a vehicle for truth about Canada's residential school system to help support the process of reconciliation and, ultimately, healing.”
Dale LeClair presented Heather George with a framed Truth & Reconciliation 2023 stamp set
Following the presentation, the audience were presented with a wonderful assortment of Indigenous finger foods ranging from blueberry lemongrass lemonade to wild rice pilaf and bison. After nibbling on the food, Heather George led a small group to tour the Mohawk Institute Residential School.
A colourful assortment of food
The building is currently closed to the public as its undergoing construction. It will be opened to Residential Survivors and their families on September 30th and October 1st for Truth and Reconciliation. Heather explained that the residence held between 90 to 200 students per year. Going through the building, she explained how survivors reported that the nosiest parts of the building, the boiler and laundry rooms, where the children were abused.
Display board in entranceway of the Mohawk Institute outlining its history
The school was nicknamed ‘The Mush Hole’ due to the inferior porridge, that often was infested with insects due to lack of sanitation, fed to the children. Despite the facility having an apple orchard, cows and chickens on the premise. Girls would cook food for the staff in the industrial kitchen then walk through the cafeteria where children had their mush, to the staff cafeteria. Everything was done to humiliate the children Heather cited.
She led the group under the stairs where runaways, like John, were kept when they were returned to the faculty. A bed in small dark closet where a child would be kept for days on end. Heather stated that John's friends would shove pieces of bread under the door to feed him.
She led the group under the stairs where runaways, like John, were kept when they were returned to the faculty. A bed in small dark closet where a child would be kept for days on end. Heather stated that John's friends would shove pieces of bread under the door to feed him.
Confined space where runaways were kept after being caught
The top level of the building had beautiful new flooring where the girls were located. The bathroom, another place where abused occurred, had three bathtubs where three children were bathed at once in each of the tubs. Heather reported that that is how diseases spread and the water was never changed being cold and dirty. Beside the bathroom, a flight of steps led to the girl’s dormitory. Heather pointed out how high the room was to discourage anyone from escaping. Numerous cubby holes exists where the children hide their personal items. These artifacts will be able to be displayed when Woodland Culture Centre erects a new building to house them. Currently, artifacts are held at McMaster University
 The bathroom on the girl's side |  New flooring in the girl's dormitory |
One artifact displayed in the library, is a sewing table, located on the girl’s side, that has names and numbers of the children that scribbled underneath the table. “An unforgotten remnant of the young children who lived here.” As quoted on the display.
Like Dale LeClair, I too had a ‘heavy heart’ after touring the Institute. I have attended numerous functions and events over the years at Woodland Cultural Centre, but this was my first time touring inside the Mohawk Institute in person. It is a different experience watching the video when you are in the personal spaces.
It hits home too of the devastation, that continues to be felt in Aboriginal communities through intergenerational trauma, of the atrocity’s that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation children endured for over 150 years when the Mohawk Institute Resident School opened in 1831 until the closing of the last residential school in 1981. More than 150,000 children attended one of the eight Indian Residential Schools located throughout Canada’s provinces and territories. Canadians do need to know about the ‘dark history’ of residential schools to ensure it never happens again and to allow for Residential Survivors and their Aboriginal communities, to deal with their trauma which hopefully will lead to their healing.
(Photos taken by Heather A. Rennalls)
Related links:
Like Dale LeClair, I too had a ‘heavy heart’ after touring the Institute. I have attended numerous functions and events over the years at Woodland Cultural Centre, but this was my first time touring inside the Mohawk Institute in person. It is a different experience watching the video when you are in the personal spaces.
It hits home too of the devastation, that continues to be felt in Aboriginal communities through intergenerational trauma, of the atrocity’s that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation children endured for over 150 years when the Mohawk Institute Resident School opened in 1831 until the closing of the last residential school in 1981. More than 150,000 children attended one of the eight Indian Residential Schools located throughout Canada’s provinces and territories. Canadians do need to know about the ‘dark history’ of residential schools to ensure it never happens again and to allow for Residential Survivors and their Aboriginal communities, to deal with their trauma which hopefully will lead to their healing.
(Photos taken by Heather A. Rennalls)
Related links:
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
- National Film Board of Canada
- Learn with Your Head, Lead from the Heart & Speak Your Truth: Teaching Young Children about Residential Schools
- Download the Education Guide
- Intergenerational Resilience: Sharing Stories from Families of Residential School Survivors
- Download the Education Guide
- Residential Schools in Canada
- Indian Residential Schools
- Residential School
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- The National Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419
Quote: “It’s not just a part of who we are as Survivors – it’s a part of who we are as a nation.” (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)
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