The Legacy of Hope Foundation Presents – Roots & Hoots Episode 18: Featuring Dan and Nancy Rubenstein

(Ottawa, ON) June 22, 2021 – On this week’s Roots & Hoots episode, the Legacy of Hope Foundation’s host, Gordon Spence, is pleased to be joined by Dan and Nancy Rubenstein. Dan and Nancy have lived in Ottawa since 1981. Dan was an auditor with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and Nancy was an early childhood educator. They have since retired, and through what started as stories to their grandchildren, they have since been putting pen to paper. Their first published book, Railroad of Courage, tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who flees slavery and makes her way to Canada on the Underground Railroad. Dan and Nancy’s most recent work is a book entitled St. Michael’s Residential School: Lament and Legacy, based off their 4-month work experience at the school. They are allies to Survivors of Residential Schools and share with Gordon, a perspective that we do not often hear, but one that is so important on the road to Reconciliation and to the shared healing between Indigenous Peoples, and the rest of Canada.

It was 1970 when Dan and Nancy sought landed immigrant status from the United States to Canada, and were offered jobs as childcare workers at St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay, B.C. From their first day, they were shocked by the way the children were treated. When they questioned the school administrator, they were told that they did not understand the importance of discipline and consistency. They witnessed many abuses and acts of dehumanizing cruelty all directed towards the children. They helped to circulate a petition asking the Federal Government to visit the school. In December, a delegation from Ottawa arrived at the school. The Government asked to speak with staff alone, without the administrator. No one else spoke, but Dan and Nancy read a long list of concerns shared by elders in the community, which spoke of the deep sadness and pain that the students were subjected to. Dan concluded by saying that the Residential School was an instrument of cultural genocide. The next day, Dan was called to the administrator’s office and fired. The experience of working at St. Michael’s left lasting and extremely vivid memories on both Dan and Nancy, who recognized, they had to do more, had to share their story, and above all had to listen to and support Survivors. In chronicling their experiences, records have been extremely difficult if not impossible for them to obtain, but their memories are necessary parts of the story of Residential Schools and must be shared on the path to healing.

Dan and Nancy’s honesty, empathy, and vivid experiences which they share in this episode, show non-Indigenous Canadians, the path towards allyship, shared grieving and ultimately healing. Dan and Nancy say that above all, it is important to listen to Indigenous Leaders and to embrace conversations with Indigenous Peoples.

From 1844-1996, it is estimated that over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children attended Residential Schools. There were 130 in existence, which were run by the Federal Government, in corroboration with the Presbyterian, Anglican, Catholic and United Churches. It is said that 6000 children died while attending Residential Schools. However, with the recent ground-penetrating radar survey which confirmed the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the true number is likely higher.

The LHF is pleased to be celebrating their 20-year anniversary as a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, Day Schools and other colonial acts of oppression on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) Peoples. The LHF has 19 exhibitions that are available for loan for free.

Our latest exhibition, Escaping Residential Schools: Running for their Lives, is now available through an animated virtual video, along with the Survivors’ Oral Testimonies. The exhibition examines the experience of Survivors of the Residential School System and raises awareness on the impacts it has on our communities. For more information on the project, please visit: https://legacyofhope.ca/project/escapingrs/ The LHF is working on making its other exhibitions also available on line. LHF also has curriculum from K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Day Schools. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism and foster Reconciliation in Canada.