Dennis Thomas oral history
Video
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
Think
Now that you have listened to the stories of these Survivors and explored the art they produced during their time at residential school, reflect on how these stories and artworks have changed you.
What does it mean to you to have heard these individual stories and truths?
What kind of feelings and emotions are you experiencing? Are you inspired? Angry? Shocked? Ashamed? Sad?
How might these feelings inspire you to act or think differently about Canada and reconciliation?
Do
Consider a way to share what you have witnessed through looking at the art and watching the Survivor’s video.
Share what you have witnessed with a friend or family member.
Write a paragraph or journal entry about what you have seen, felt and heard while listening to the Survivors’ stories.
Create a piece of art that responds to what you have witnessed.
Details
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- Dennis is from the Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island.
- He followed his older siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
- His painting depicts two wolves and is based on a story told to him by his father.
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He followed his siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
His painting depicts two wolves and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up. The wolves embody the importance of land and water in coastal communities and teachings; teachings that Dennis now passes on to his own children.
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He attended the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
In this oral history interview, Dennis recalls how he was excited to go to school because his siblings were already there. Dennis did not like the school once he saw and experienced the physical and sexual abuse students suffered at the hands of supervisors and teachers. His painting depicts two wolves, and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up.
“To me, it represents our culture. The way we were brought up, and the way we should have been brought up. Not like the way they teach us at residential school. My own children know very much about our culture. And that painting kind of helped me explain it to them.”
- Dennis is from the Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island.
- He followed his older siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
- His painting depicts two wolves and is based on a story told to him by his father.
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He followed his siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
His painting depicts two wolves and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up. The wolves embody the importance of land and water in coastal communities and teachings; teachings that Dennis now passes on to his own children.
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He attended the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
In this oral history interview, Dennis recalls how he was excited to go to school because his siblings were already there. Dennis did not like the school once he saw and experienced the physical and sexual abuse students suffered at the hands of supervisors and teachers. His painting depicts two wolves, and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up.
“To me, it represents our culture. The way we were brought up, and the way we should have been brought up. Not like the way they teach us at residential school. My own children know very much about our culture. And that painting kind of helped me explain it to them.”
Summary
- Dennis is from the Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island.
- He followed his older siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
- His painting depicts two wolves and is based on a story told to him by his father.
Essential
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He followed his siblings to the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
His painting depicts two wolves and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up. The wolves embody the importance of land and water in coastal communities and teachings; teachings that Dennis now passes on to his own children.
In-Depth
Dennis is a member of Ditidaht First Nation, on Vancouver Island. He attended the Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1960s.
In this oral history interview, Dennis recalls how he was excited to go to school because his siblings were already there. Dennis did not like the school once he saw and experienced the physical and sexual abuse students suffered at the hands of supervisors and teachers. His painting depicts two wolves, and is tied to a story his father told him when he was growing up.
“To me, it represents our culture. The way we were brought up, and the way we should have been brought up. Not like the way they teach us at residential school. My own children know very much about our culture. And that painting kind of helped me explain it to them.”