The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a very emotional day for my family and I, and for many Indigenous communities across Canada. I’m a third generation Residential School Survivor, as my late Dad Ron Smith attended Residential School in Port Alberni alongside with brother and sisters. I had a total of five of my grandparents attend the same school in Port Alberni. Many other children were taken away from their community without their will. The parents and kids never knew if they would ever return back home.
I can’t imagine being taken away from your home ripped away from your parents at a young age by a stranger not knowing where you were going.
Our culture, language, and traditional dancing and singing with drums were not allowed at all at Residential schools. Children got very bad punishment for speaking their language. It was very hard for many Survivors to speak their language when they returned back home, but in the later years, many started to learn their language. For me, it’s a great honour to speak my language.
I talk my language, sing, and drum for all the times that my ancestors were not allowed to for many years.
For me, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a holiday. It’s a day to honour our Survivors and remember the children that never made it back home. I encourage you all to go to events in your community on September 30th.
Walk softly, be kind to one another, and love one another, especially on September 30th every year.
About Kobie Smith
Kobie Smith is from Haisla Nation, a small community in Kitimat BC. He is one of the Hereditary Chief for the Salmon Clan. His Hereditary Chief name is Hemajalas. Kobie is a BCIT Indigenous Student Champion and 2024 alum of the BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism program. At a very young age, he knew he wanted to be a sports play-by-play broadcaster. So, in 2021, he applied and got into the BCIT program. At BCIT, he had the chance to broadcast with CFNR in Prince Rupert, BC, at the All-Native Basketball tournament. He also worked on telling positive Indigenous stories and showcasing Indigenous voices. As class valedictorian and a recent graduate, Kobie hopes to be a sports play-by-play broadcaster and be a role model for Indigenous Youth to “chase their dreams and never give up”.
(Photo source: Kobie Smith, taken at a Pow Wow, Langley Events Centre, 2022)