The Rooms will be offering a free event on National Truth and Reconcilitation Day. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentThe Rooms in St. John’s is marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a special exhibit and week-long events.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIn Their Own Words: Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools, a multimedia exhibit by Them Days magazine, shares the stories of residential school survivors through photographs, audio and video footage, and background information.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe purpose of Truth and Reconciliation Day is to acknowledge the abuses and missing children Indigenous people suffered by way of the residential school system.Article content“The exhibition is comprised of several panels, with information about the schools and the apology, and explanations of art created to represent the healing at the apology and the subsequent healing sessions,” explained Them Days editor Aimee Chaulk.Article content“The other part of the exhibition is audiovisual, with several computer kiosks where visitors can listen to (or watch) former students talk about specific topics, like food at the dorm.”Article content The Rooms in St. John’s. Article contentHow ‘In Their Own Words: Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools’ beganArticle contentChaulk says the groundwork for In Their Own Words began following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official apology for residential schools in 2017.Article contentFollowing that, the Healing and Commemoration travelling exhibition was created by the federal government, and healing sessions were held in communities across Labrador and in St. John’s and Ottawa, where survivors told their stories, with most agreeing for them to have them recorded and shared.Article contentArticle contentThe materials were held in Labrador at Them Days, and an educational exhibition was created.Article contentArticle contentFrom there, Them Days took the exhibit across Nunatsiavut communities, including Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet, as well as North West River, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Cartwright, and Roddickton.Article contentSt. John’s marks its final stop.Article content“We’ve had good reception in the places it’s been,” said Chaulk.Article content“Former students have called it very healing to visit the exhibition and to see their experiences acknowledged. Others, especially those who work with Labrador Indigenous peoples, have said that the exhibition has been very educational and introduced them to a history they didn’t know about.”Article contentWhat is the residential school system?Article content Toby Obed at the federal government’s residential school apology for survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in 2017.Article contentThe residential school system took form all across Canada starting in the 1800s, and saw over 150,000 Indigenous children forced to attend.
Their Own Words: NL Residential Schools exhibit at The Rooms free on Sept. 30
