Up Ghost River, Edmund Metatawabin

Up Ghost River

By Edmund Metatawabin

(Tansley Reads Rating 80%) 

As people gather, hand them a card with a number and a colour on it.  Refer to them by their numbers only.

 

Icebreaker – Sue

 

What was your first experience like when you started school?  Were you prepared in any way for it?

 

Questions

 

1. (Explain only those who have the stated colours may answer the question) RED – Why do you think some of the nuns/priests/staff were so cruel, and even abusive, to the students?

 

2.  WHITE – Why did Netchi (Mama) and other aboriginal peoples (even others around the world) turn away from their native spiritual beliefs and embrace those of the Catholic Church?

                     

3.    BLACK – When chiefs gather today they greet each other asking “How are the children?” How could parents, who themselves attended Residential schools, not be aware that “something was not right” at the school?

 

4.    YELLOW – What did you learn from this book and how has it affected you?

 

5. RED – What do you think of the Reconciliation efforts that are going on now?  Do they go far enough? Do they go too far?

 

6.  BLACK – What do you think of Edmund’s suggestions (pg. 299-303) as to the ways in which we can help?

 

Explain what was going on here.  How did it make you feel?  We will now call for general comments on any of the questions.

 

 

Quick round: What did you think of the book? Is there anything you want to discuss that we missed?