TONIGHT: History speakers’ series in Edmonton educates on the harms of residential schools

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. Harold Robinson will present “They welcomed them with blankets, tea and tears: Healing the harms of Indian Residential Schools” as part of the Amiskwaciy History Series.

The free presentation will be held at Eastglen High School Theatre, 11430 – 68 St. in Edmonton.

Robinson, a Métis lawyer from Edmonton, adjudicated Indian residential school claims from 2004 to 2016. He shares his perspective about Indian residential schools, perseverance, hope and the roles to be played in building a better future.

Understanding the nature of the Indian residential school program and its impacts is critical to healing the ongoing harms, reads a press statement about the series.

The Amiskwaciy History Series is an Indigenous grassroots initiative aimed at building awareness around the often untold Indigenous history of the Edmonton area. Through free monthly educational sessions, the series aims to provide accessible and culturally appropriate education to the public on Indigenous history as lived and told by the people.

The name Amiskwaciy comes from Amiskwaciy Waskahikan or “Beaver Hill House,” a Cree term used to describe the Edmonton area.