'It is Canada's History': winners of James Bartleman Indigenous Creative Writing Award reflect on residential school discovery
Two of the winning recipients from the James Bartleman Indigenous Creative Writing Awards are sharing their thoughts with CTV News Toronto on the disturbing discovery of 215 children's remains at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.
They are among six young Indigenous people recognized Friday for writing excellence as part of a virtual ceremony normally held at Queen’s Park. They also each received a cheque for $2,500.
The awards are named on behalf of Ontario’s first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor.
“It means more than you could ever know,’ Kaylem Daybutch, 20, said while accepting his award.
The story, written when he was 18, is about a young man with schizophrenia who finds solace in an imaginary woman, showing the joy in one’s life even with mental health struggles.
He’s now a third-year student at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie — the building itself is a former residential school.
Kaylem Daybutch, 20. (Beth Macdonell/CTV News Toronto)
“For me to digest something like this and about my own people, my family somewhere down the line has gone to residential schools, and I think the most difficult thing processing it is why haven’t we done this for every school still up,” he told CTV News Toronto in an interview Friday.
Daybutch said as horrifying as the truth is, it is Canada’s history.
“It’s in the roots, it’s the roots of Canada, whether you are Indigenous, white, Black, Asian, the point is if you’re walking on this country, you’re walking on the roots of trauma, you’re walking on the roots of blood that didn’t need to be shed,” Daybutch said.
Ariel Wendling, 19, won for her essay on the prevalence of mental health in everyday life and the need to share feelings and experiences. She said she’s internally grateful for the award.
Wendling said the burial grounds in Kamloops are sad, but she’s not surprised thanks to a high school teacher who taught her about residential schools.
“I think this has been attention on something that needed attention, so a lot of kids especially my age, even adults weren’t aware this was happening,” she said from Port Colborne, Ontario.
Wendling said she sees a connection between her essay and the survivors of the schools.
“I know a lot of people who have survived through these schools suffer from PTSD and other mental health issues and I think they do have a link,” she said. “I do believe they need more support.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.