Those too young to have gone to residential schools say they too are affected

They are too young to have gone to the church-run residential schools that forced generations of aboriginals to abandon their language and culture.

But today's First Nations youth say the schools the federal government sent their ancestors to have cast a long shadow over their families and their communities.

"I wasn't able to learn my language. That was a big thing for me growing up," said Nicole York, 23, whose parents, grandparents and other relatives attended the schools.

"Because of the way my dad was treated ... not that he didn't want to teach me how to speak Cree, but for so many years he was forced not to, so for the longest time he never spoke to us in Cree."

York, who recently graduated from the University of Winnipeg, grew up on the Norway House reserve in northern Manitoba where, despite its remoteness, aboriginal culture and tradition had somehow been all but erased.

"So many teachings were lost because of the residential schools. We've just started having our powwows again. Norway House was very Christianized for a very long time."

Shylo Swan, 26, feels residential schools also took a toll by forcibly removing children from their parents during their crucial learning years.

"How are they supposed to know how to parent their child if they weren't taught from their own?" she asked.

Swan and York both talk about ripple effects far beyond the physical and sexual abuse that were widespread at the schools. They say the fact that generations of native students were essentially told that everything they believed in was wrong has caused many of their relatives to suffer self-doubt.

"The whole idea of keeping quiet and not saying anything and just trying to hide (your feelings), it's really sad," York said.

If there is a silver lining to the residential school legacy, it appears to be a renewed determination among many young aboriginals to protect their First Nations heritage.

"We have to teach our people ... to keep our culture and keep our language and teach the generations that are coming," Swan said.

"We can start trying to build up and bring back what we lost. I think this is a fresh new beginning."

Canadian Press

Blazes 'so, so close'

Raging forest fires threaten northern towns

By ROSS ROMANIUK, SUN MEDIA

More than 500 firefighters are battling five raging forest blazes in northern Manitoba, while there's no word on when 730 evacuees will be able to return to their homes.

The most dangerous situations are in Norway House, where a blaze has burned perilously close to homes, and in the area of Sherridon, northeast of Flin Flon, where more than 100 firefighters are desperately trying to beat back flames that have nearly lapped at a school and other properties.

"It is so, so close to so many places," Premier Gary Doer said yesterday of the Sherridon fire, after returning to Winnipeg from a flight to see some of the severe blazes that have burned about 35,000 hectares.

"The fire was just right at the doorstep of the school, right at the doorstep of campgrounds -- and just missed a transformer, and was abutting gas tanks at a municipal area for trucks and maintenance."

Crews restored Sherridon's electricity late Saturday night after power had been knocked out when the fire damaged two hydro lines.

A shed, an old cabin and a boat have been destroyed there, though no homes have burned "yet -- touch wood," Doer added, noting the province expects to spend up to $10 million in the next 10 days fighting the fires -- easily surpassing Manitoba Conservation's $14-million budget for the work this year.

BURNING WOOD, MONEY

"We're definitely burning wood and burning money, but the most important part is to protect property and people."

About 100 firefighters have come from Ontario to battle the blazes, and another 30 from Alberta.

Planes from Ontario and Minnesota are taking part with 15 water bombers and 30 helicopters to try to suppress not only the fires in Sherridon and Norway House, but also blazes near St. Theresa Point, Waasagomach and Grand Rapids.

The fire north of Grand Rapids has prompted RCMP to shut down Highway 6 three times in recent days due to a loss of visibility caused by thick smoke. The highway was closed yesterday from Grand Rapids to Ponton.

Following an initial evacuation that saw 2,600 people leave their homes, the 730 remaining away include more than 450 from St. Theresa Point, about 50 from Sherridon and 218 from Waasagomach. Most of the evacuees are at hotels in Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie.

Manitoba has had 172 forest fires this spring, above the 20-year average of 154 this time of year and way up from the 88 that had burned by the beginning of June in 2007.

Winnipeg Sun